Snacking can be good for you as long as you make wise decisions about it.
To be a smart snacker, the best option would be to avoid snacks that contain added sugar or unhealthy fats such as saturated fats. This is because eating foods that are high in saturated fats could lead to an increase in your cholesterol level, which could eventually lead to heart diseases.
The good news is, we’ve got some handy tips to help you choose your snacks wisely.
1. SNACK ONLY WHEN YOU’RE HUNGRY
Try to keep yourself from reaching out for the cookie jar when you’re feeling frustrated or bored. If you haven’t had time for lunch and your stomach starts to growl loudly, then perhaps you should opt for snacks to temporarily fill your stomach before your meal. However, choose snacks that are healthier such as berries, apples or baby carrots as they’re packed with plenty of beneficial nutrients.
2. SNACKING WITH PORTION CONTROL
It is important to control your snacking portions. You wouldn’t want to fill yourself with snacks and have a heavy meal right after that.
To fill your stomach without adding on the extra pounds, have your snacks two to three hours before your next meal. Your daily snacking options could be almonds, celery sticks with cream cheese, Greek yogurt and many more!
3. DON’T CONFUSE SNACKS WITH TREATS
To be a smart snacker, it is important to know the difference between snacks and treats. Treats are food that you eat on special occasions such as cake or pie. On the other hand, snacks are food that help ward off the hunger pangs in your everyday life. Treats often have higher calories than snacks.
4. DON’T BE FOOLED BY FOOD PACKAGINGS
Terms like all natural, fat-free, or no added sugar are often printed on food packaging. However, these terms can be deceiving. These do not always translate to lower calories as there is a possibility of hidden sugar, salt or added flavouring that you’re not aware of.
It is a common issue for many to clearly understand nutrition labels. What you’ll need to do is to review the nutritional facts and pay extra attention to the ingredients, calories per portion and serving size.
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