Most dietitians agree that eating multiple small meals throughout the day is much healthier than eating only the usual three large meals. Small meals keep the flow of nutrients to your body going, and the brain especially needs these nutrients to function well. Research has shown that a steady supply of glucose is healthier for the brain than having it come in spurts.
Choosing snacks wisely can help fuel your body (especially your brain) between meals, give you an energy boost, and add to your total intake of essential nutrients for the day. Snacking can also help to take the edge off hunger between meals. The longer you wait between meals, the more you tend to eat at the next meal. Here are some tips for smart snacking:
- Choose snacks that are lower in fat and nutrient rich.
- Make snacks part of your eating plan for the day instead of thinking of them as extras.
- Make snacking a conscious activity, not a mindless face-stuffing situation.
- Eat snacks in smaller portions, not meal-size ones.
Try some of these smart snacks as part of your healthy eating plan:
- 1/2 bagel with peanut butter
- Raw vegetables with low-fat or fat-free dressing
- Fruit yogurt topped with low-fat granola cereal
- Low-fat cottage cheese topped with fresh fruit
- A piece of fresh fruit
- Light microwave popcorn
- Pita bread stuffed with fresh veggies and low-fat dressing
- Low-fat string cheese
- Whole-grain cereal and fat-free milk
- Vegetable juice