Tips on Smart Snacking

In today’s busy lifestyle, many of us feel like there is no time for healthy eating. During rush hours, we feel tempted to go for the quick and easy route by grabbing a burger and fries, potato chips, or chocolate bars.

Snacking is a great way to maintain energy levels and manage hunger and prevent binge eating.
If you have a hectic schedule, it is important to eat healthy foods that give you the fuel you need to keep going.

Even if you take time to eat three meals a day, you may still feel hungry at times. Smart snacking can help to keep you going until your next regular meal. Snacking on nutritious food can keep your energy level high and your mind alert.

However, you need to take care of what you eat. Eating packets of fries or wedges may give you a temporary boost, but a snack this high in fat and calories will only slow you down in the long run.
To keep energy levels going and avoid weight gain, stay away from foods with lots of simple carbohydrates (sugars) like candy bars or soda. Look for foods that contain complex carbohydrates like whole-grain breads and cereals and combine them with protein-rich snacks such as peanut butter or low-fat yogurt or cheese. Fresh fruits and raw vegetables are always the best choices. Go for wholemeal sandwiches with lots of raw vegetables.

When a label spells “all natural” or “pure”, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the food is nutritious. For example, “all natural” juice drinks or sodas can be filled with sugar (which is, after all, a natural ingredient) but all that sugar means they’ll be high in calories and give you little nutrition.

Because manufacturers do change their recipes, you could get more calories, sugars and fat substitutes than you bargained for, so always look at labels before purchasing. Whatever claims a food’s manufacturer writes on the front of the package, you can judge whether a food is healthy for you by reading the ingredients and the nutrition information on the food label.