Smart Snacking

Today’s nutrition tip is all about your – in between meal – snacking choices. Snacking is pretty common among many people. If you’re not a snacker between meals, that is totally fine and is a great way to give the digestive system time to efficiently digest your previous meal. With that said, it’s also important to distinguish between actually being hungry and needing a snack versus eating out of boredom as this can lead to extra calories and tax the digestive system. The best way to tell is to check in with yourself; is your stomach growling, are you feeling light-headed, or low in energy or are you simply thinking about food and finding yourself wondering around the kitchen or break room looking for a snack. First tip – really try to not eat out of boredom, try distracting yourself with a task you know you need to get done, and drink water or tea to curb cravings.

When you know you really need to eat something, choose vegetables, fruits, and whole grain options. Avoid highly processed foods especially generic and conventional branded snacks like Chex Mix, Lays chips, sugary granola or protein bars. Try whole grain crackers with your favorite spread; nibble on fruit (e.g., grapes, blueberries, apple slices); munch on veggies with a healthy dip such as hummus or veggie dip. Protein balls or nibs, seeded crackers, dried fruits, veggie chips, nuts, and seeds are all other great easy go-to snack options, especially when you have less time to prepare vegetables and fruits.

Don’t forget about consuming healthy portion sizes, by moderating your snacking. You can do this by not eating out of the container and using separate dishes for your snack. Another tip is to prepare vegetables, fruits, and dips ahead of time. Cut up your strawberries and cucumber or squash before you put them in the fridge, so when you’re ready for a snack, you can easily grab them before something less healthy.