Snacks That Make You Feel Good
Here's some feel-good snacks for different purposes:
When you're hungry
Even if you're trying to lose weight, you shouldn't be suffering hours of hunger pangs. If you're genuinely hungry (not just feeling bored or greedy), and it's a while till your next meal, then get a filling snack. Some great options are:
Oatmeal. Make it with 1% milk, or equal parts milk and water. Adding a little sugar won't do much harm, though raisins, banana or berries are better options if you're trying to keep your sugar intake down. Oats are a low-GI (slow energy-release) food so even a smallish bowl of oatmeal will keep you full for a couple of hours.
Wholegrain sandwich. A sandwich made with a couple of slices of wholegrain bread and some lean protein (I like wafer-thin turkey slices) is a great fill-the-gap option if you've got a long wait between lunch and dinner. Opting for wholegrain bread ups your fiber intake - good for your digestive system - and keeps you full for longer.
When you need a boost
If you're feeling a bit low or tired, fresh fruit and vegetables can really perk you up. This is also a great way to sneak some extra vitamins and minerals into your diet: if you struggle to reach your five-a-day, snacking on fruit and veggies makes it easy. And you'll feel great because you know you're putting good stuff into your body.
Fresh fruit. Keep a few pieces on your desk at work, or somewhere visible and grabbable at home. An apple and a banana will give you a good sustained energy boost - a candy bar will just leave you feeling lethargic again after an hour.
Raw veggies. I love the "crunch" factor of crudités! Slice up some carrots, celery, bell peppers, and whatever else you fancy. A bit of hummous or guacamole to dip them in will also give you a few extra nutritional goodies.
When you want a treat
We all know we shouldn't use food as a reward - but sometimes it's hard to resist having something sweet as a treat after finally getting through all the housework, or finishing that tricky report for the boss. Instead of going for a king-sized bar of chocolate, though, try one of these small but super-satisfying options:
Good dark chocolate. Buy something really indulgent, rather than an additive-packed candy bar from the corner shop. If you hated dark chocolate as a child or teen, give it another try; many of us find that our taste buds change as we get older. It's richer in antioxidants than milk chocolate, and the stronger flavor means you'll be satisfied with less.
Popcorn. A healthy, low-fat snack, popcorn even counts as whole-grain. Don't eat it in movie-sized buckets, though; buy small multi-packs, or get a popcorn maker and air-pop your own (the microwaveable sort has added oil). Even with toffee flavoring, popcorn isn't nearly so sugary or calorific as other snacks.
What are your favorite feel-good snacks when you're hungry, tired, or in need of a treat?
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I tend to eat apples pears mostly fruit for a quick pick me up or sometimes crips (potato chips)
ReplyNuts. Plenty of fat and protein, which will keep blood sugar stable for longer. Low GI veg and fruit is all very well as a snack, but ultimately have limits in terms of prolonged satiety.
ReplyIndeed. I eat a piece of fruit and I'm ready for more within half an hour. A big handful of GORP carries me for far longer.
Replyoats and multigraing/wholegrain sandwiches are more meals (pretyy much my brekkie and lunch in fact, with a bit of fruit!!!) ... my favourite treat is a small piece of nice cheese with some dried fruit - or cashew butter spread thinly on apple slices. I find, though, with a good brekkie and lunch I can get through the day without wanting a snack - though I couldn't live without my herbal and green teas!!!
ReplyThis is great! I love hummus, especially spicy hummus. I find that low-fat treats with a lot of flavor are the best for me, and spicy kicks help a lot. And it's true about dark chocolate - I've found that the better the quality the more I enjoy it and don't need a lot. (Lindt Dark chocolate with Chili is a favorite!)
ReplyI think those are all great ideas for foods! If only that is what people actually ate for snacks :)
Replyi am an apple-holic and love to munch on carrots, cucumbers, and celery- all dipped in lots of mustard with added salt and pepper...
Replybut i also have my guilty pleasures of grahm crackers with butter, mango popsicles, and ,of course, those suckers that are green-apple with caramel that personally hail the coming of autum :)
I love all fruits except apples. Maybe I'm doing something wrong!
Nuts are my favorite but I have to be careful because once I start I can go at'em like a starving banshee.
ReplyI snack on Spinach.
ReplyHealthy snacking is definitely an important part of dieting. But veggies and lean protein alone won't cut it. By adding a slice of cheese on your sandwich or using skim milk in your oatmeal you are getting in 2 servings of your needed 3-a-day. Not only does 3-a-day help maintain a healthy weight, but it has other incredible health benefits...such as osteoporosis prevention and preventing certain forms of cancer! For more information about dairy and its health benefits, check out my blog at:
Replyhttp://collegecolumnists.blogspot.com/
!
Nuts make good snacks. It's a good idea to keep a little stash at your desk at work.
ReplyI love to snack on almonds, bananas, apples, canalope, watermelon and grapes
ReplyI like light string cheese, raw nuts, and peanut/almond butter on whole wheat crackers.
ReplySeedless red grapes are a wonderful picker-upper, better than even the 5 o'clock cocktail.
ReplyGreat Post! Thanks for all of the great ideas :)
ReplyI like cut up veggies dipped in my own homemade dip made of salsa mixed with nonfat yogurt. I also like mixed fruit topped with yogurt and a handful of cereal as sort of a "dessert". It really satisfies my sweet tooth without a ton of calories.
Another really awesome find: Kernel Season's popcorn flavor sprinkles. I love the Ranch and the White Cheddar flavors...you can sprinkle them on airpopped popcorn to make it taste really yummy. Or you can sprinkle it on veggies or whatever you want...it really makes bland popcorn taste insanely good.
ReplyThanks for the post, some very useful information here! Who doesn't love popcorn, and dark chocolate is also good for lowering high blood pressure. Also, oatmeal is great for helping to lower cholesterol.
Great post - thanks again:)
ReplyI tend to make fruit smoothies to give me a boost, also you can have all of your five portions of fruit in just one drink.
A favourite site of mine for smoothies is www.flowercarole.com
ReplyDark chocolate...sadly, this is one taste I can't enjoy. While it's true ones tastes change over time, this is one thing I still can't stand and I doubt I will ever be able to like it. There's this frozen asian food stuff I would get from Wal Mart that I used to love...I forget what kind of sauce but it's full of mixed vegetables (like carrots and broccoli) and it has chicken in it.
ReplyAnyway...
I don't know if it's "just me" or what, but I can't stand this stuff anymore. I try to enjoy it but it just tastes all wrong to me. Like some fool washed the meat in some kind of lemon cleanser or something and doesn't know how to make the sauce correctly. (and I honestly don't know why or how I have even an inkling of what lemon cleanser tastes like) Eww.
Lastly, I remember this special frozen meal having way more sauce than it does now. Although it was messier, back in the day..I loved that sauce. It was much tastier than whatever crap sauce they keep putting in it now.
After today - (it's been a long time in between the last time I had it and having it recently) - I'm never going to eat it again. (I was hoping it wouldn't taste so bad so I was trying it one last time...but...no...it still tastes like they hired a bad newbie cook or something rather than the old familiar taste that I fell in love with)
Good general advice i think is to get a balance of snacks between fruit, protein and vegetable. And to avoid the carb based snacks(ceral bars, rise cakes crisps etc)which to be found all over the supermarket. For example, a fruit snack in the morning such as an apple, provding 3g fibre and nutrients. And a protein snack in the afternoon, say plain yogurt, nuts, protein bar etc baout 8-10g protein.
ReplyFor lunch, I love 1/2 a measured cup of cottage cheese (120 cal), one large sliced peach (70 cal) and one 100-calorie pack of Lorna Dunes shortbread cookies mixed together - for a 290 calorie meal that tastes like peach shortcake; add a cup of coffee and yum!
Reply