Snacking The Right Way
|The last time we had a guest blogger writing about a controversial topic, many of our fans have chimed in positively in support. As such, we invited the same group to discuss another topic – snacking. As usual, this is one that invites a lot of discussion, which is why I covered my own philosophy about this in my book the Strategic Nutrition Guide. Anyway, here goes:
Snacking is the downfall of many otherwise healthy diets, but the good news is that you can learn to control this snacking quite easily. Also, even if still want to snack during the day, there are ways in which you can do so without killing your healthy diet. Staying on track with your diet when you like to snack might be hard, but it is worth that extra effort because it keeps your body healthy.
To prevent snacking, simply eat more meals. Instead of eating three large meals every try, try eating smaller meals every few hours. If you are snacking because you are hungry, chances are that you are using more energy than you are ingesting and you need the extra fuel. By eating six smaller but healthy meals every day, you will not be tempted to snack very often, but will keep your high energy levels.
You can also help to stop your snacking simply by removing temptation. Before you reach for a snack, ask yourself if you are honestly hungry or if you are just eating because you are bored, because the food tastes good, or because you feel compelled to eat when doing a certain activity (like watching a movie).
If you are snacking because you are really hungry, than it is probably fine to have something to eat, but if you are snacking for another reason, you should try to remove the temptation. Simply rid your house of junk foods and do not buy these items again when you go to the grocery store.
Instead, purchase healthy snacks. Think about the snacks you are eating. Would they fit easily into a food group as fruit, vegetable, grain, dairy, or protein? If the answer is no, then the snack is probably not good for you. For example, carrot sticks (vegetables), yoghurt (dairy), or whole wheat crackers (grains) work well as snacks, while candy, potato chips, and processed foods do not.
When you snack, remember to consider your beverages as well. Drinks like soda, fruit punch, iced tea, lemonade, and juice boxes can contain unnatural ingredients and lots of sugar. In short, they are high in calories but low in nutrients. Instead, opt for drinks that supplement your healthy diet.
Choose water most of the time, or drinks that are made with natural fruits, like apple juice. Low-fat milk and sports drinks are also good choices. Above all, stay away from most kinds of alcohol as much as you can. Red wine is an exception, since this can help your heart health, but any type of alcohol in high amounts is fairly bad for your body.
How did you go with this article? Useful, isn’t it? To be honest, the philosophy of the writer does not deviate too far from mine, as written in the Strategic Nutrition Guide. Ultimately there is no one way to go about things, and anyone who says there is is probably trying to fleece you. Hope you enjoyed this post, and check out the Granite Fitness Masterclass today too, which includes the Strategic Nutrition Guide!
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