Smart Snacking

[LongboardLuLu]

Got this in an email, thought I'd share... (and bare in mind these ideas aren't really geared for hardcore BBers)

We all face snack attacks: after work when the kids are hungry and we're frazzled from a hectic day; late in the evening while watching TV; on lazy weekend afternoons. We can control snack attacks with three easy steps:

-Be prepared. Make sure you have healthier snacks on hand, and keep cookies and other high-fat, high-sugar treats hidden from sight in the back of the cupboard and refrigerator.

-Use the food pyramid to fill in the gaps. If breakfast was cereal and toast, perhaps a midmorning snack could consist of fruit, yogurt or string cheese -- all items missing from breakfast. If you use this tactic, you won't be as easily tempted to choose high-calorie snacks, and you'll improve your nutritional intake at the same time.

-Choose a satisfying snack. Do you want something salty? Sweet? Cold? If we can understand what type of flavor or texture we want, we're more likely to be satisfied sooner rather than later, after we've rummaged through the cupboards. Here are some ideas for healthy snacks:

-To satisfy your sweet tooth:
Fresh or dried fruit.
A frozen fruit-based sweet or other frozen treat.
Frozen grapes or berries
Low-fat yogurts in exotic flavors: cappuccino, banana cream pie and even chocolate mint.

-If you're looking for something crunchy:
Plain, reduced-fat microwave popcorn. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese for extra flavor.
Pretzels and low-fat crackers made with whole grains.
Bagel or tortilla chips. Make your own: Cut tortillas into pie-shaped wedges and slice bagels thinly. Place on a cookie sheet in a single layer, and bake in a 400-degree oven until toasted (5-10 minutes).
Baby carrots, celery sticks and jicama slices. Keep them ready to eat in the refrigerator.

-Craving protein?
Low-fat string cheese or cubes of other reduced-fat cheese.
A hard-boiled egg.
Rolled-up slices of low-fat turkey or ham.
A hearty lentil or black bean salad for fiber and protein: simply mix rinsed and drained canned legumes with your favorite fat-free salad dressing.

-If you'd rather sip your snack:
Blender drinks: Mix any combination of skim milk, yogurt, fruit juice and fruit in a blender.
Caffeine-free flavored teas.
We often mistake thirst for hunger: Try calorie-free flavored waters, or add your own flavor to sparkling water with a twist of lemon or lime, or even add fresh cranberries.
Sugar-free hot chocolate made with skim milk: It not only satisfies your sweet tooth, it adds essential calcium and vitamin D to your diet.

-Bag a healthy snack:
Pretzels or plain popcorn in individual bags.
Cereal or granola bars that contain added calcium.
Reduced-fat or baked potato chips.
Snack in a bag: Mix your favorite types of dry cereal, and add a handful of raisins and a sprinkling of roasted nuts.

[Gustavoh]

Thx for the info ...

Gus

[m@xpower]

GOod info

[puckman2001]

isn't grop (sp?) a good snack, with all those nuts, raisens, and of course M&Ms

[chev30]

soy nuts are a good snack too

[gtg393w]

Dill pickles are a great snack too. While they are high in sodium, they're also calorie free! Can't beat that.

[RoaringMad Mac]

I love celery with Naturally more Peanut butter.

[marlin]

What about peanuts and cashews?

[aikigirl]

Nuts in a limited amount as they are high in saturated fats...I do not agree on pretzels, bagel chips etc...they are pure carbs and moreso coming from refined flour ( the worst , high GI ); popcorn ok...carrots not too many, high in sugars...be careful!
Cereal and granola bars full of sugar..check them out, and fatal: low fat yogurts: those flavours are usually loaded with sugar ( must have 10-13g sugar, above that forget it! )

[Dave]

unsticky this already

[IrishFighter15]

When I am going climbing i make gorp wich is basically lots of raisins,dried fruit and the likes of alpen all mixed toghether now i usualy add chocolate but you could substitute that with dried bannana or somthing like that..

[kad]

good post thx

[joyce]

Thanks for the info onsmart snacking. Really helps..

[Glockwork3]

ok i have 2 questions concering what i thought was smart snacking... I take either wheat or Wholegrain breade 2 slices of a bagel or english muffin and use natural peanut butter by smuckers, which has ingredients only"peanuts and salt" thats it... but it has 210 calories per 2 tbsp, 8 grams of protein and i dont remember how much fat, and 1 gram of sugar, from what i remember isnt 210 more caloires than the normal skippy peanut butter i get? or is regular peanut butter worse because of all of the grams of fat since 1 gram of fat=4 calories?? ok and also i read bread and pasta are not good for you cuz of the slow acting carbs that store into fatty deposits. any help and knowledge is appreciated.

[DJmaniac]

Awesome suggestions *throws away cookies*

[csmith3518]

Originally Posted by aikigirl

I do not agree on pretzels, bagel chips etc...they are pure carbs and moreso coming from refined flour ( the worst , high GI )

Arent most pretzels made out of 100% whole wheat flour not the refined crap. I think pretzels are great as long as they are eaten with some source of protein

[Matt58]

Pretzles and peanut butter are GREAT together, though I don't eat them now but I use to eat that combo everyday.