The Word on Weightloss

No matter how you slice it, dice it, or chop it up – snacks can either be the best addition to your weight loss plan, or the worst. Most weight loss plans or diets will encourage you to eat several smaller meals throughout the day rather than two or three larger meals. In order to avoid over-eating, several weight loss plans also recommend incorporating snacks into your food diary. I’m here to support and encourage this theory by providing you with energy boosting and fat blasting snack ideas. These snacks will surely be the best addition to your weight loss diet.

First, here are a few basic elements to consider when snacking:

Time

I’ve read a lot of different ideas on how often an individual on a strict weight loss plan should eat. Over the years, the general consensus that I’ve developed is every two-three hours, depending upon what you eat, how busy you are and how you feel.

Portion Size

Don’t forget, a snack is a small meal! It’s not a Thanksgiving Dinner. Portion size is critical to the idea of a snack! The smaller the better, because after all a snack should just hold you over until your next larger meal.

Whole Grains, Fruits and Vegetables

Healthy snacks fill you with the best nutrients to power you through your between-meal. When in doubt, select a fruit, vegetable or whole grain to boost your energy and save you from hunger pangs.

Here are a few of my favorite energy boosting snacks, separated by craving type.

Crunchy and Salty

• Popcorn is a great snack because you get a lot of volume and fiber (which makes you feel full), and it's a whole grain, so it's healthier than a snack like pretzels," says Gidus. What's more? The low-fat microwave kind is easy to prepare and low in calories. These days you can buy single-serve popcorn, which means you can eat a whole bag without feeling guilty! My new favorite is kettle korn because it’s salty, sweet and crunchy.

Chewy & Sweet

• Fall is right around the corner, and so are farm fresh red, yellow and green apples! My favorite fall snack is a medium apple cut into half inch cubes then topped with a ½ cup of Greek yogurt and a dash of cinnamon. I love adding cinnamon to my snacks – it’s a powerful spice that adds a lot of flavor that will keep your taste buds humming for hours!

Salty & Sweet

• Believe it or not, nuts like almonds, peanuts and cashews are deliciously salty morsels that make for a wonderful snack. They're packed with good fats, which help you stay full; fiber, and nutrients like selenium, vitamin E, and omega-3s. Add a few raisins to the mix to curb your sweet tooth at the same time.

Cold, Creamy and Sweet

• My new favorite ice cream replacement snack is Banana Nice Cream – a recipe I recently found in my Whole Foods coupon booklet. I tried making a batch tonight and loved it. This end of summer treat proves that you can make your own healthy dessert without sacrificing the sweetness you crave!

Banana Nice Cream Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 Bananas (sliced and frozen)
• 1 Cup Unsweetened Soymilk (or almond milk if you prefer)
• 2TB Smooth Almond or Peanut butter

Directions:

1. Start but putting the bananas, soymilk and almond butter into a blender.
2. Puree the ingredients together until smooth and creamy. You may have to stop the blender and stir the mixture two or three times during the process.
3. Pour your delightful creation into two bowls and enjoy!