Being stuck at home with the refrigerator and pantry within arm’s reach at all times can prove to be challenging when trying to be health-conscious. Think of healthy snacking in three stages: pre-planning, filling up with healthy options and drinking water first. Placing focus on these three things can help keep “over-snacking” at bay.
Pre-planning
If you purchase snacks in large-sized packages, be sure to pre-portion snacks into individual portions to limit eating more than one portion, do this BEFORE you reach for the snack.
Healthy Options
Not all snacks are created equal; some are better to help with calorie control and productivity. The rule of thumb should be: fill up on Fiber, Protein, and Healthy Fats. These three macronutrients can help prevent overeating throughout the day or at the next meal. Snacks with these ingredients help you feel more satisfied and fuller at each meal. Examples include hard-boiled eggs, popcorn, low-fat dairy products, nuts, seeds, or avocados.
Drinking Water
Are you feeling thirst or hunger? Often the body misunderstands feelings of thirst and sends signals to the brain, saying the body is hungry. Be aware of these mixed signals; it is important to drink a non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverage, preferably about 8 ounces of water. Then, wait about 20 minutes to see if you are still feeling hungry; if you were just thirsty, the feelings of hunger should diminish. If you are still hungry, refer back to the previously mentioned tips for choosing a healthy snack.
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