If you’re like many others in Honolulu, HI, your mother probably warned you about snacking before meals. They said it would spoil your dinner. It often did. If you want to lose weight, some people will tell you how bad snacking is. It’s not. It all depends on what you eat. Snacking may be your best line of defense to shed extra pounds. We recommend that it’s planned so you eat food that adds to your nutrition without adding to your girth. Your mother was right, but only if you snacked on cake, candy, or other high-calorie, low-nutrient food. If you ate veggies or fruit, it’s completely different.
Eating healthy snacks may help you shed weight.
Eating a snack can be beneficial if your stomach is growling and dinner isn’t for an hour or two. Snacks should be between 100 and 200 calories and nutritious. They can curb your appetite so you don’t devour your food at your next meal and overeat. Your snack should be filling enough to curb your appetite but not fill you. It should be food higher in fiber. Fiber fills you, so you eat fewer calories. It keeps energy higher, maintains blood sugar levels, and aids digestion.
Send energy to your body and brain.
If your blood glucose levels are low, it can lead to a feeling of exhaustion. That makes both mental and physical tasks more difficult. People often feel most compelled to eat a snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon. If you eat highly processed food with added sugar, it lifts your energy immediately before sending it pummeling to the depths, making brain fog worse. Having a combination of protein and carbs is best. You’ll improve your brain health if the snack is higher in Omega-3 fatty acids, like walnuts or a hard-boiled egg from pastured chickens.
Keep your blood sugar level with snacks throughout the day.
Spikes and deep dips in blood sugar can lead to insulin resistance. It’s a precursor to type-2 diabetes and can encourage weight gain. Your blood sugar drops three to five hours after a meal. Plan small meals and snacks throughout the day. You’ll maintain your blood sugar levels and not put your body through peaks and valleys.
- Before and after exercise, eat a planned snack containing protein and carbohydrates. It should be between 100 and 200 calories. It helps you maximize your workout and starts the recovery process.
- Snacks can help you save money if you eat them before grocery shopping. If you’ve ever made impulse purchases of sugary snacks when you’ve shopped on an empty stomach, you’ll know that a snack before shopping could prevent you from buying those items.
- Know yourself and your habits. If you know you’re going to snack, plan to make the snack healthy. Snack on peanut butter and fruit or grapes and string cheese. Have fresh veggies and fruit sliced and ready to eat for easy access.
- Snacking can keep your metabolism fires burning high. When you space your meals closer together, there’s no dip in your energy level, so you’ll burn more calories 24/7.
For more information, contact us today at Hawaii Fit Camp!