Around 4 pm every day, many of us get that hankering for a snack and those evil vending machines in the office break room start calling our ...
Around 4 pm every day, many of us get that hankering for a snack and those evil vending machines in the office break room start calling our names. When you’re trying to have success with diets or easy weight loss programs, this can be somewhat catastrophic. Yet with some planning, forethought and a little bit of nutrition knowledge, you can get through snack hour with zero damage to your waistline.When it comes to snack time, size matters. And since you ate a healthy breakfast and lunch, you probably just need a little something to keep your metabolism revved. As you may have noticed, many weight loss products and snacks come in 100-calorie servings. This is because that’s about all you need to keep your body fueled in between meals. Here are some great ideas for snacks to satiate your appetite and stave off those cravings for junk food, while staying on track with easy weight loss programs. And remember, try to incorporate as many fruits and vegetables as possible!
Make your snacks interesting. If apples bore you, but you know you need more fiber in your diet, slice them up and dip them in a spoonful of almond butter. Or bake them with some cinnamon for a delicious snack that almost passes for dessert.
Dip fruit slices in low-fat Greek yogurt sprinkled with some metabolism-revving cinnamon or nutmeg.
Popcorn is actually a great source of fiber and has a surprisingly high antioxidant content. Sprinkle it with cinnamon for a sweet take. Slice a tomato and sprinkle it with a little bit of feta and extra virgin olive oil for a healthy dose of lycopene and omega-3 fatty acids.
Dip celery, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, sliced bell peppers or carrot sticks in hummus for a fiber-rich, protein-packed energy boost.
Mix raisins with a handful of unsalted almonds, cashews or walnuts—the omega 3 fatty acids will make your skin glow and elevate your mood. Switch it up by mixing in cranberries or dates.
Mix fresh or frozen blueberries, raspberries, blackberries or strawberries with low-fat Greek yogurt. Make it a fruit parfait that resembles dessert by topping it with sliced almonds or sunflower seeds.
If you have a sweet tooth, try weight loss products such as Drizzles, which come in two delicious flavors, caramel and chocolate.
Bananas are always a great standby. Packed with fiber and potassium, they’ll help stave off hunger while helping to reduce bloating.
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