An important part of any diet, or weight loss plan, is snacking.
Proper snacking will keep blood sugar levels even and will help to supplement your diet with nutrition.
Snacking smart will help you to avoid overeating because you will feel full and satiated.
Children especially needs snacks because they get a large amount of their calories by snacking.
Healthy snacking is important, but some snacks may seem healthy when they really pack too many calories.
For example, trail mix may seem like a smarter choice than a cookie, but in reality trail mix can pack in a lot of calories for a very small serving.
A better snacking choice is a low sugar cookie like raisin, or to make your own trail mix using lower fat and healthier ingredients.
You can make your trail mix with healthier nuts and dried fruits to provide antioxidants.
You may have heard that popcorn is a healthy snack, but think twice before you pick a bag of popcorn over a serving or tortilla chips.
Popcorn can be filled with chemicals and unhealthy fats like butter.
Tortilla chips may be a healthier choice because they have fewer calories and some types are baked rather than fried.
Another good option is to pop your own popcorn without the additives and chemicals for a healthy snack.
A yogurt parfait and a smoothie may seem equally health conscious, but the parfait has many additions that can add calories without nutrition (like granola and sugar).
The best choice is to make your own smoothie using wholesome low or no fat yogurt and fresh fruits.
You will get important probiotics and antioxidants from the fruit.
To keep your calories in check while enjoying healthy snacking, preparation is key.
Stock up on a week's worth healthy snacks so you will always have something quick and good for you on hand to eat.
You should also eat your snacks pre-planned so you are less likely to go off of your diet or overeat.
Making your own snacks rather than buying ready made gives you the