Snack attack: Tasty, healthy foods to nibble
Updated: 2006-08-09 14:40
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"If we don't meet these needs then we can't detoxify and remove waste. Then our bodies tell us to keep eating more and more food, which I call toxic hunger — basically, a food addiction."
Healthy choices
Instead of sugary treats, dieticians recommend fruits and vegetables, along with food that contains good fats like omega-3, lean protein and fiber. Some examples are nuts for lean protein and healthy fat, while hummus provides fiber and is tasty.
Other tips for smart snacking:
"If we don't meet these needs then we can't detoxify and remove waste. Then our bodies tell us to keep eating more and more food, which I call toxic hunger — basically, a food addiction."
Healthy choices
Instead of sugary treats, dieticians recommend fruits and vegetables, along with food that contains good fats like omega-3, lean protein and fiber. Some examples are nuts for lean protein and healthy fat, while hummus provides fiber and is tasty.
Other tips for smart snacking:
Freeze fresh fruit such as bananas in a plastic bag, then take them out a couple of days later to blend with ice, soy or regular milk, and a bit of cocoa powder to make a smoothie.
Snack first, then get to other tasks. Trying to eat and do other things, even simple activities such as watching TV, can cause a person to overeat because they aren't paying attention.
Be selective when grocery shopping. A good rule of thumb is if you have it, you will eat it, so avoid buying unhealthy food such as doughnuts and snack cakes and load up on fruit, vegetables and whole grains.
Snacking is important to fuel the body — get that with a balance of protein, fat and carbohydrates all at the same time.
Pay attention to the times that you tend to get cravings each day, that way you can be armed with healthy food, instead of scrambling and settling for sugary snacks.
The right snack for the right person
Of course, having the right snack varies from person to person. For instance, an athlete who works out for a couple of hours each day may need a snack that is higher in carbohydrates, but is also replenishing to the body. Instead of grabbing a candy bar, nutritionists recommend drinking a bottle of pure pomegranate juice because it is high in natural sugar and in antioxidants.
For those who constantly travel, meal-replacement bars make good snacks because they can easily fit into a backpack and contain essential nutrients, protein and carbohydrates. Just be aware of the glorified candy bars that are chocked full of sugar. Agatston says to look for ones that contain a few grams of fiber and are high in protein. He also says not to eat a whole one if the intention is to have it as a snack because they may have more calories than are needed.
Since we know that picking the right kind of snacks can be tricky, we decided to take some recommendations from dieticians. The snacks on the slides that follow are suggestions for certain types of people, but they work for just about anyone — all simple solutions when it's time for a quick pick-me-up.