FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM SEPTEMBER 19, 2019 • WELLNESS • THE QUEENS COURIER 51
wellness
Are you a mindless muncher? Follow
these smart tips for healthier snacking
Eating small snacks throughout the day
can be a great way to maintain energy
and keep hunger pangs at bay between
meals. Th e problem is, it’s far too easy to
reach for unhealthy foods that satisfy your
sweet or salty cravings, but don’t necessarily
provide the essential nutrients your
body needs.
You can prevent mindless snacking by
taking a few proactive steps now so you
have access to delicious foods that are
easy to eat at home or on the go. You’ll feel
good about snacking by following these
simple tips and tricks:
Convenience: Shop with the goal of
stocking the fridge with convenient,
nutrient-rich snacks. For example, new
Fruitlove spoonable smoothies are packed
with the goodness of three or more real
fruits and vegetables, providing a good
source of protein and calcium, and an
excellent source of vitamins A, B1 and
B3. Th e unique fl avor combinations -
like Mango Medley that features banana,
pineapple, carrot and mango - seem like
a treat, but Fruitlove is really a wholesome
snack packed with goodness. With
a spoon right in the container, it’s built for
on-the-go snacking.
Weekend prep: Some people do meal
prep on weekends for the upcoming busy
work and school week. Th is can also be
a great strategy for snacking. For example,
buy fresh vegetables in bulk to save
money, then spend some time on Sunday
chopping them into veggie straws and
packaging them into individual containers.
Th is provides an easy grab-and-go
snack. Keep them in an accessible drawer
in the fridge so anyone can get a healthy
snack when hunger strikes.
Drink up: Sometimes your body confuses
thirst with hunger, so strive to stay
hydrated by keeping a water bottle close
by and sipping regularly. When you snack,
also consider a side of good old H2O to
help your body feel its best. Bored with
this zero-calorie beverage? Add a healthy
fl avor boost with sliced lemon, strawberries
or cucumber.
Portion size: It’s easy to overeat when
you have a whole bag or container to
snack out of. Whatever the food, be mindful
of the portion size on the nutrition
label. A smart way to stick to reasonable
portions is to take the snack and put the
correct portion in a bowl. Th at way when
it’s gone you are done snacking rather
than being tempted to overindulge.
Crunchy alternatives: Looking for a
way to satisfy that craving for something
crunchy without resorting to unhealthy
chips? Whole nuts have a tasty crunch and
are packed with protein, omegas and other
nutrients. For example, 1 ounce of almonds
contains 6 grams of protein, 3.5 grams of
dietary fi ber and 75 milligrams of calcium.
Snack slowly: When you’re hungry, you
tend to eat faster. However, it’s important
to eat slowly to let your body metabolize
food effi ciently, plus it can trick
your mind into feeling like you’re eating
more. For example, eat one nut at a
time rather than handfuls of three or four.
Take breaths between bites and notice the
tastes and textures of the food, enjoying
every bit.
Whole grains: Whole grain foods provide
essential nutrients and fi ber, which
helps you feel more full for longer. An
oft en-forgotten versatile whole grain is
popcorn. Consider investing in an air
popper and popping your own so you can
fl avor it with wholesome toppings such as
dried herbs or cheese. Separate into individual
baggies that can easily be tucked
into backpacks or purses.
With these smart tips you not only
tempt your taste buds, but you also give
your body snacks you can feel good about.
From smart shopping to mindful snack
prep, these changes are sure to make a big
impact in how you snack.
Courtesy BPT
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