The Busy Girl’s Guide to Snacking Healthy

A great tip for keeping the extra pounds off is to never be hungry before a big meal (lunch/dinner). This may sound counterintuitive, but it’s a mantra that works for people who don’t want to overindulge. The easiest way to execute this plan is to eat light, healthy snacks throughout the day. Follow the busy girl’s guide to snacking and before long, “BINGE” will be out of your diet vocabulary:

SNACKING ON-THE-GO

1. Go Natural

Snacks are best for you when they come from nature, not from foiled packages. Handy fruits like apples (alternate green and red to keep things interesting), bananas, and grapes (portion control please!) should always be in your grocery list. Nuts are also great for snacking – plain roasted; not honeyed or salted. Mix them with dried fruit (not the sugar-coated kind) and even dark chocolate chips to make for an interesting treat.

2. Read Labels, Not Claims

Not everything ‘non-fat’ or ‘sugar-free’ is good for you. Because ‘fat is flavor’, some food manufacturers up the sugar to compensate for the loss in creaminess. ‘Sugar-free’ items also tend to have a lot of artificial additives. Spend time studying nutrition facts (% of RDA, carbs-to-fiber ratio) and ingredients lists (first 2-3 items on the list are the main components so if sugar’s one of them, think twice!), and you’ll literally snack smart.

3. Water Up and Keep a Lean Stash

You’re not an ant saving up for winter – keep that snack drawer at work under-stocked! Though it’s comforting to have a full stash of goodies (for those late nights or long meetings at the office), it’s smart to keep food at minimum and water at max. Get a big pretty water bottle, and drink from it whenever you get those tiny hunger pangs. Sometimes, water is all it takes to feel full.

SNACKING AT HOME

4. DIY

Make snacking a special event! Instead of microwaving popcorn, try slow-cooking kernels in a pot with some olive oil and peppercorns. Get a juicer (manual or electric) and make your own fresh fruit punch. Buy raw cashews and toast them in a pan. Heat some low-fat milk and add cocoa powder for a healthy and comforting cup of cocoa. Freeze a banana. Slice fruits or bread into funny shapes before eating them. All you need is a little creativity and pantry stocked with stuff that’s good for you.

5. Portion, Portion, Portion

Never be alone with a big bag of chips or a tub of ice cream in front of the TV or computer screen. (So tempting though, right?) It’s okay to give into cravings, as long as they’re in controlled amounts. Putting snacks in single-serve bowls (and leaving their bigger packs in storage) makes for less impulsive eating. If you buy snack ingredients in bulk, portion them into smaller containers first, so you can spread out your consumption.

Tell us, what are your healthy snack ideas? *Spread love, not butter.*