Triumph over Snack Attacks

We all face snack attacks: after work when the kids are hungry and we're frazzled from a hectic day; late in the evening while watching TV; on lazy weekend afternoons. We can control snack attacks with three easy steps:

1. Be prepared. Make sure you have healthier snacks on hand, and keep biscuits and other high-fat, high-sugar treats hidden from sight in the back of the cupboard and fridge.
2. Ensure you diet is balanced by filling the missing nutrients between meals. If breakfast was cereal and toast, perhaps a midmorning snack could consist of fruit, yogurt or a cube of low-fat cheese -- all items missing from breakfast. If you use this tactic, you won't be as easily tempted to choose high-calorie snacks, and you'll improve your nutritional intake at the same time.
3. Choose a satisfying snack. Do you want something salty? Sweet? Cold? If we can understand what type of flavour or texture we want, we're more likely to be satisfied sooner rather than later, after we've rummaged through the cupboards.
   
   Here are some ideas for healthy snacks:

   To satisfy your sweet tooth:

   • Fresh or dried fruit
   • A frozen fruit-based sweet or other frozen treat
   • Frozen grapes or berries
   • Low-fat yogurts-make them more interesting and add fresh fruit

     If you're looking for something crunchy:

   • Plain, reduced-fat microwave popcorn

   • Bagel or tortilla chips.
     

   • Baby carrots, celery sticks and cucumber chunks. Keep them ready to eat in the refrigerator.
     

    

   Craving protein?
   · Cubes of other reduced-fat cheese.
   · A hard-boiled egg.
   · Rolled-up slices of low-fat turkey or ham.
   · A hearty lentil or kidney bean salad for fibre and protein: simply mix rinsed vegetables with your favourite fat-free salad dressing.
   If you'd rather sip your snack:
   · Blender drinks: Mix any combination of skimmed milk, yogurt, fruit juice and fruit in a blender. If you have a juicer this will improve both taste and nutritional value
   · Herbal teas or even a hot lemon drink
   · We often mistake thirst for hunger: Try calorie-free flavoured waters, or add your own flavour to sparkling/still water with a twist of lemon or lime.
   · Sugar-free hot chocolate made with skimmed milk: It not only satisfies your sweet tooth, it adds essential calcium and vitamin D to your diet.
   You can even put a healthy snack in a bag and take it out with you!
   · Tortilla Chips or plain popcorn in individual bags.
   · Cereal bars that contain added calcium.
   · Reduced-fat or baked potato chips.
   · Snack in a bag: Mix your favorite types of dry cereal, and add a handful of raisins and a sprinkling of roasted nuts-adding raisins/sultanas can also improve the flavour and help fill you up.