One of our hardest challenges in maintaining a healthy weight is that we feel hungry a lot. This is natural. Snacks are a terrific way to satisfy hunger and get all the vitamins and nutrients your body needs.
You need to really pay attention to what you eat. Stuffing your face with a large order of fries may give you a temporary boost, but a snack this high in fat and calories will only slow you down in the long run.
To keep energy levels going, and avoid weight gain, steer clear of foods with lots of simple carbohydrates (sugars) like candy bars or soda. Look for foods that contain complex carbohydrates like whole-grain breads and cereals and combine them with protein rich snacks such as peanut butter or low-fat yogurt or
cheese.
How to Judge Whether a Snack is Healthy
Choosing healthy snacks means we have to shop smart. Be very cautious of health claims on food packages.
Watch out for "all natural", or "pure". It does NOT necessarily mean that it's nutritious. "All Natural" juice drinks or sodas are often loaded with sugar, which technically is a natural ingredient, but all that sugar generally means high in calories with very little nutrients.
Granola bar's are a very good example of a snack that most people would consider as healthy. Although they can be a good source of vitamins and nutrients, many also contain a great deal of fat, including a particularly harmful type of fat called trans fat. On average about 35% of the calories in a regular granola bar come from fat. There can also be a lot of sugar in granola cereals and bars. Check the Nutrition Facts label on the package so you can be sure.
Be very skeptical of low-fat food claims, too. If the fat has been eliminated or reduced, the amount of sugar in the food may have been increased to keep that food tasting good. Many low-fat foods have nearly as many calories as their full-fat versions.
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