Your Guide for when it hits Snack O’clock
Snacking can be fun, delicious and distracting. However, we need to make sure that we’re snacking for the right reasons and that we’re choosing snacks that are made up of healthy foods and will keep us full until our next meal.
Do we need to snack?
Snacks are a great way to keep you going in between meals. If your main meals are balanced with healthy fats, wholegrain carbohydrates, protein and fruit or veggies, then you should slowly start becoming hungry over the next few hours. If you’re starting to notice those little hunger pains and your next meal is still a while away, then you may need a snack.
The important question to ask yourself before snacking
Before you reach for a snack, ask yourself ‘why am a having this snack?’
If the answer is “because I’m bored of whatever I’m doing” then you may have to revaluate the situation and refocus your attention on something else.
If the answer is ‘because my energy levels are starting to drop and I’m feeling hunger pains from an empty stomach” then yes, your energy reserves are probably running low and a snack may be required!
The next thing you now need to decide is what you’re going to snack on. As this decision if not considered carefully, could end up in an energy crash and cravings.
What to snack on.
If you have decided you’re genuinely hungry, then you should be selecting a snack that has foods that contain protein, healthy fats, wholegrain carbohydrates, fruit and veggies.
If you choose a processed snack full of refined carbohydrates, sugar, salt and unhealthy fats (like a chocolate bar or cookies) you’re most likely going to have a quick energy burst followed by a quick energy slump and more cravings as you won’t be full!
If you have a healthy snack then your hunger will be satisfied and your energy levels will be stable until you slowly start to become hungry again, which will probably be in time for your next meal!
Check out these quick and tasty snack ideas which are rice cakes with a range of toppings to satisfy all, sweet, salty and savoury cravings.
Rice Cakes
1 rice cake = 1 serving
- 1 TBSP Avocado & ½ can tuna.
- 1 TBSP hummus & handful of chopped veggie sticks.
- Vegemite, 1 slice of cheese & sliced tomato.
- 1 TBSP cream cheese & sliced cucumber.
- 1 TBSP peanut butter & sliced banana.
- 1-2 TBSP yoghurt, sliced strawberries & kiwifruit.
