A Riddle and Five Healthy Reasons to Snack
Riddle: What is truly designed by nature to be the perfect snack, is round, you can drop it and it may bounce…..and is packed with Protein?
Answer: You Got It! A Hard Boiled Egg!
It is one thing comes to mind for me, when it comes to snacking. Healthy, portable, convenient and not in excess of 300 calories! Well that throws out chips and three layer chocolate cake. But honestly, when I want a snack, it is typically in between meals or when I just need a boost of energy.
Snacks are many things to many people. But, what snacking does so incredibly well is fill a need. Snacks have grown in popularity across the board. Look at the restaurant industry, sliders and similar mini portions are on most menus. Then go to the grocery store. I am sure you can walk down the aisle and be mesmerized by the 100 calorie snack packs that greet you on every corner.
There is a plethora of opinions and information on snacking, but how do you weed though it all and get that one piece of information that will ultimately make a difference in your lifestyle or maybe it’s your family’s lifestyle. Here are a couple of tips on energizing and healthy snacking…
If you want some serious energy and are truly focused on weight management, then snacks are for you! Don’t ask me, listen to the experts at The American Dietetic Association. Their “Smart Snacking” brochure states “snacks help boost your energy between meals…and … supply nutrients your body needs”.
Weight control and energy are two key benefits to snacks. But snacks make sense for many other reasons. Let me give you five solid reasons:
- It keeps your metabolism going and puts you in a positive mood. Think about it, when you have a cranky youngster or teenager, typically they are low in fuel and need a snack to change that attitude into a positive one.
- Snacks can give you the much needed vitamin boost and nutrients you are lacking. Strawberries and blueberries can pack in the Vitamin C and antioxidants that our bodies need. Give our blueberry smoothie recipe a try.
- Snacking curbs the urge to eat everything but the kitchen sink. Don’t tell me that I am the only one who deprived myself of cookies for a week, then ate not one but two boxes of Girl scout Cookies…it happens. One or two healthy snacks in between meals can stave off extreme hunger and overeating.
- Active kids and adults need extra energy. Okay, soccer moms, myself included, after running up and down on the field for 2 hours you need a snack for energy and endurance.
- Avoid mindless eating! A Healthy Snack gives your body nutrients; unlike mindless snacking and eating of unnecessary calories that do nothing to make you feel good.
Happy Snacking!
