If you are like me, I look forward to my snacks as much as I do my regular meals. I have also learned that I do much better on my weight management program if I eat 5 to 6 times every day. It keeps my metabolism up and I don't get hungry. It keeps my body out of the "starvation mode" where it thinks it needs to hang on to calories instead of using them. If you feed your body regularly, it gets in the habit of you giving it more nutrition every few hours. What is very important to note, however, is that it makes all the difference what you eat as a snack. The above list contains excellent choices for snacking. My favorite snacks are the ones with the highest protein levels. I feel much better with a higher level of protein in my diet and I seem to lose weight faster too. My favorite afternoon snacks are hard boiled eggs, protein bar, fat free cottage cheese with a fruit cup (no sugar added) and turkey sticks or weight watcher string cheese sticks. Watch your sodium and MSG content if you choose turkey sticks or jerky. My go to snack that I have every evening before bedtime is a cup of Kroger Carbmaster yogurt with 1/4 cup of Post Grapenuts cereal or Ezekiel 4:9 cereal stirred in. That gives me a hint of sweetness, lots of protein and some crunch. It lays well on my stomach and keeps me from going to bed hungry. Use your imagination and you will find some of your favorite foods will fit right into your snack time. You could also even snack on leftover chicken breast from last night's dinner. Listen to your body and see what it is hungry for right now. Just be mindful of those calories and make sure they fit into your overall plans and goals. Happy snacking!
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