Friday, October 31, 2008

Healthy Snacks for your Diet

By Ricardo d Argence

Most experts agree that snacking is a part of a balanced and healthy diet, as long as the snacks don't pile on empty calories. I myself was a dieter not too long ago. Of course, I exercised and changed my eating habits, but I had to find a way to enjoy the diet.

If you are finding that you feel hunger pangs on a continuous basis during your low-fat diet, you may not be eating enough. Eating too little will make you feel weak and faint and may even prevent you from losing weight.

Although many dieters find it easy to plan and eat nutritious, calorie controlled meals, they are stumped when it comes to sensible snacking. Potato chips, cookies and candy are easy targets for a hungry dieter because they require no preparation and can be eaten quickly before guilt has time to set in. Instead of breaking your diet with fatty junk food, stock your home with diet-friendly snacks.

It is possible to add nutritious snacks to any eating plan. They won't just enable you to feel full and subsequently able to resist cravings, but in addition they help you maintain your energy level. Since I love to snack, these foods really helped me get through this stage.

Almonds are a nut high in protein that can boost your energy levels. There is no need to fear foods that have a high fat and calorie content. There are definitely advantages , and as stated before, no food has to be excluded from a diet as long as you keep your portion size in check.

Portion out pre-sliced pieces of fruits and vegetables in bags so you always have something to gnash on when your hungry. If something isn't simple, more than likely it won't occur so keep in mind that pre-planning is essential.

Yogurt is a great way to sneak dairy into your diet if you don't like drinking milk. Dairy products contain calcium, and recent research has shown that calcium may actually help us lose weight. There are regular and reduced fat varieties and many brands of yogurt. Yogurt packs a protein punch that will help you feel energized and satiated.

To quickly subdue an attack of the munchies, try a high fiber snack like 94% fat free microwave popcorn.

Remember that fiber keeps you full, so look for snacks that are high in fiber, yet low in fat and calories. And never forget to drink a lot of water, if you're doing everything else right and still not seeing results, this might just be what's missing. - 15683

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