If there is one thing that can quickly demolish your efforts at a fit lifestyle it is snacking. Okay, maybe that’s only true for me.
For a long time I had no problem getting in enough exercise on a daily basis. I cut down portion sizes at mealtime, introduced healthier items into my meals and cut out the sugary iced tea that I was drinking on a daily basis. But I was still in a battle with snacking.
In between all of that good stuff was munching on Doritos, dipping Oreo cookies into a cold glass of milk and enjoying a big bowl of mint chocolate chip ice cream. In other words, all of my efforts were being wasted because of snacking.
The best way to eliminate snacking like this is to stop purchasing the stuff. Trying to exert willpower when these unhealthy items are staring you in the face doesn’t work for most people.
Eventually you may get to a point where you can enjoy something like this every-once-in-a-while but until then, keep them out of your cupboards. But the answer doesn’t just lie in not having those items available. You need to replace them but with healthier choices.
So here is a list of some healthier alternatives when it comes to snacking:
Cottage cheese
Fruit
Veggies
Protein bars
Nonfat yogurt
Frozen yogurt
Sunflower seeds
Pickles
Fruit Smoothies
These are just some ideas. Remember that snacking is fine if you are truly hungry in between meals. However a good way to test whether or not you are really hungry or just dehydrated (yes, it can be confused) is to first drink an eight-ounce glass of water.
If you still feel hungry afterwards, then go ahead and eat a healthy snack. In fact, it is easier to lose weight when you eat several, small meals throughout the day. So there is nothing wrong with snacking in itself…you just need to make sure the snacks are healthy.
What ideas do you have for healthy snacks?
Related Articles:
The Benefits of a Food Journal
Satisfaction in Eating and Fitness
What Do Your Portion Sizes Look Like?
Photo by hondasc33 in stock.xchng