Snack, Snack, Snack

Do you ever have one of those days when it just seems like you cannot stop eating?  Everything sounds good, but nothing really satisfies your “hunger”?  It happens, whether because you’re emotional and looking for comfort or maybe it’s simply because you are bored.  Whatever the reason, the pantry and fridge seem to keep beckoning you…snack after snack after snack after meal after snack after meal.

First, take a step back and figure out why you are “hungry”.  Different causes may call for different actions. 

Could you find something else to do?  Would a simple distraction do the trick?  Go for a walk, play a game, read a book, complete a puzzle, call a friend.  Sometimes simply agreeing with yourself that you’re not actually hungry and dedicating your thoughts to something other than food can keep you from emptying the snack shelf.

Otherwise it is vital that you have some healthy things around.  Being prepared is half the battle.  If it is one of those days and all you have are chips and cookies, well, guess what your intake is going to be.   Maybe you don’t have much at all and don’t feel like making anything so you run to the nearest fast food joint.  Again, not the healthiest option.  You may end up with a day filled with high fat and sugar calories and feeling especially icky.

So you’re going to eat more than usual today.  Okay, but at least get as much nutrition out of those extra calories as you can.  What do I mean?  When you feel like you need that snack, pick from whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, veggies, or low fat dairy.  Instead of potato chips, which would not fill you up on any day, choose a serving of whole grain crackers with reduced fat cheese cubes for instance.  Give yourself a chance to be satisfied by your snack choice.  Sticking to proper portions is a good start, then building your snack using a couple different food groups to keep it better balanced and more filling, then finally eating it mindfully.  Actually sit down and enjoy your snack.  You’ll be allowing more time to feel filled and may be less inclined to get more.

A couple of my go-to snacks are whole grain waffles with yogurt and fruit and Greek yogurt with granola.  Both of these combos give me good nutrition, satisfy my cravings, and are very tasty.  Do they sound good to you?

Simply top 1 toasted whole grain waffle with about 2 tablespoons of a light and low sugar yogurt (I like Dannon Light and Fit Vanilla) and then top with your favorite fruit (like sliced strawberries or bananas).  A simple sprinkle with cinnamon is tasty too.

My favorite yogurt and granola combo (currently anyways…I go through phases) is a single serve cherry chocolate Greek yogurt (again light and low sugar, Dannon Light and Fit Greek) with a dark chocolate macaroon granola from Nature Valley’s Love Crunch varieties (also lower sugar).   I probably put about 1 tablespoon in my yogurt.  Enough to give extra flavor and crunch.   Another great combo is a toasted coconut vanilla yogurt with banana nut granola.  Now I don’t know about you, but that kind of sounds like a treat.  It is, but I am also keeping my sugar intake down, getting a serving of dairy, some whole grain, and great protein from the Greek yogurt.

Be prepared and make healthy snacks convenient.  Nutritious calories are better than empty calories.  Happy snacking!