Smart snacking can actually help you lose weight by keeping you from becoming so ravenous you could eat your desk. By eating small amounts every few hours you keep your blood sugar stable, which keeps hunger at bay.
The key: every smart snack includes a mix of lean protein along with a healthy carbohydrate. Yeah. Sorry. My “snacks” don’t come from the vending machine.
The carb can be any fruit, vegetable or whole-grain bread or cracker. For the protein portion, think fish, chicken and low-fat dairy. Here are five of my favorite go-to smart snacks for busy days:
Watermelon, basil & low-fat feta salad tossed with vinaigrette
Wasa Crispbreads topped with 2 tablespoons hummus and cucumber slices
Multigrain crackers with two Light Laughing cow wedges
Endive spears with low-fat goat cheese (mixed with a little garlic!)
Low fat cream cheese spread on red bell pepper
It’s easy to come up with quick and tasty ideas when you have the right ingredients on hand. Next time you head to the market, make sure you stock up on:
Greek yogurt
Low-fat cheeses (like string cheese and goat cheese)
Small can of water-packed salmon or tuna
Whole-grain crackers
Chicken or turkey slices
Whole-grain tortillas
Hardboiled eggs/egg whites
Hummus
Peanut butter
Lots and lots of cleaned and chopped fruits and veggies
Then, just mix and match!
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