A healthy snack between meals can decrease your hunger and keep you from overeating at meal times. But it is important to remember to wait at least 2 1/2 hours between eating, to allow your blood sugar to return to baseline. Here are some tips to help you make healthy choices.
Healthy Snacking Tips
- Ask yourself – am I really hungry? Or are you just bored, emotional, or thirsty? If you aren’t actually hungry, find another way to address what you’re feeling. Try going for a walk, listening to music, reading a book, or drinking some water.
- Reach your goals. Keeping your goals in mind will help lead you to make healthier food choices. Why not have a fruit and/or vegetable as a snack – you will get more nutrition, fiber, and water, and crush your goals all at the same time!
- Keep it small. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a snack should be between 200 and 300 calories.
- Plan out/portion out. Buying food in bulk and portioning out your snacks ahead of time can save time, and money, and keep you on track. Use your DayTwo app to figure out what foods and portion sizes work best for you, then save them to your favorites.
- Expect the unexpected. Late meetings, sporting events, traffic – there are many things that can delay your next meal. To keep from overeating, always have a snack handy. Nuts, granola bars, and/or trail mixes are healthy, travel well, and don’t need to be refrigerated.