Snacking often gets a bad rap. But fueling your body between meals can actually be beneficial—if you go about it in the right way. Being a smart snacker means choosing nutritious, delicious foods and keeping an eye on your portions (hint: too much of a snack makes it a meal!).
Here are five simple strategies to help get (and keep) your snacks on the right track:
Master your meals.
It’s tough to be a sensible snacker if you wait too long between meals—or if your meals aren’t nutritionally balanced. Think about your typical breakfast, lunch and dinner. Are you eating enough? Are you choosing filling foods? Is your body getting the nutrients it needs? A few simple modifications to your meals can help you make smarter snack choices.
And when you’re ready to part ways with the doughnuts and cheese puffs (so long, empty calories!), we highly recommend Go Raw 100% Organic Live Pumpkin Bars. Enjoy them whole or chop them up and sprinkle them over your favorite low-fat yogurt. Yum!
Balance your bites.
When snack time strikes, combine a protein-packed pick, like an ounce of low-fat cheese, with clever carbohydrates, like those found in wheat-free, gluten-free Mary’s Gone Crackers Organic Seed Crackers. The carbs give your body and brain an instant energy boost and the protein takes its sweet time to digest (translation: you’ll feel fuller longer).
Plus, you’ll love the rich, nutty flavor of these crackers, which contain only certified organic ingredients, like brown rice, quinoa, flax seeds and sesame seeds. Another delicious partner for your protein: Vitacost Certified Organic Microwave Popcorn!
Stock your spaces.
Smart snacking means arming yourself with the tools you need to succeed: a variety of healthful, flavorful foods that you can turn to the moment hunger strikes. Identify sensible snacks (you know, the ones that are big on taste, rich in nutrients and perfectly portioned, like Enjoy Life Grab and Go Not Nuts!™ Seed & Fruit Mix) and stash them in your pantry, desk drawer, gym locker and anywhere else you may fall prey to a vicious snack attack.
Plan for portability.
And don’t forget your purse, laptop case, briefcase and/or car! Wholesome, grab-and-go snacks are the key in today’s battle against vending machines and fast food drive-throughs. If you keep items like trail mix and gluten-free Bare Organic Apple Chips (the perfect blend of sweet and crunchy!) on hand at all times, you’ll be far less likely to succumb to any questionable cravings.
Mix things up.
Same snack, new day? It doesn’t have to be that way! Alternating your favorite food finds can help you ward off feelings of boredom and deprivation. On Monday morning, satisfy your hunger with an apple and a tablespoon of peanut butter.
Tackle your sweet tooth on Tuesday afternoon with a satisfying serving of Yummy Earth Gummy Worms. Bonus: your kiddos will also love these all-natural, gluten-free gummies, which come in four fun flavors and contain 100% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C!