Healthy snacking plays an important role in weight management. Here are 5 strategies to maintain a healthy weight.
Avoid skipping meals
Skipping meals may seem like a clever way in which to cut back on those calories. However, by skipping meals, you are setting yourself up to be vulnerable later in the day to devouring high sugar, high fat foods that can very quickly supply your body with instant energy.
Keep as much junk food out of the house as possible
There's much to be said how the "see-food diet". This means that wherever food is seen, it is eaten. The temptation is even greater if lots of junk food is kept around the house calling to be consumed. Out of sight means out of mind, if there is no or minimal junk food kept around the house, the temptation to snack unhealthily is decreased.
Snack mindfully
Think before you snack. Be mindful of what you are eating, and avoid snacking while you are surfing the net or tv or even working at your desk. Before you know it, you snack is gone and increases your chance of unwanted calories.
You can take it with you
Think ahead of time, and prepare a healthy snack to fit into your bag or even your glove compartment of your car. These snacks can include sliced vegetables, a piece of fruit such as a banana, rice crackers with hummus.
Check in with yourself before snacking
Before you snack, you can ask yourself, "Am I actually hungry?" hunger can be mistaken for emotions such as stress or fatigue. Eating a chocolate bar, for example, won't address a problem. Instead of binge eating to address an issue, go for a walk, put on some music, or choose another simple activity that might distract you or boost your mood.
Hunger may also be confused with thirst.
Originally published on Aug 07, 2017
