Attack The Snack Attack!

Don’t we love to snack! The average person easily consumes 600-1000 unwanted snack calories by not paying attention to what they put into their mouth. Which of these are triggers for your snack attack? 1) You stuff your face before dinner. 2) You can’t stop eating in the car. 3)You work at home. 4) You graze at the office. 5) Your kids’ snack habits are contagious. 6) Your favorite movie or TV show is on and you just need something. 7) Your emotions of stress, boredom, sadness , happiness, or anger dictate the snack you choose.

Snacking can be our friend or it can be our enemy. Planning when to snack is the key to your success and choosing smart snacks to not only satisfy your hunger cravings but keep your metabolism up throughout your day is what we need to look at. Thanks so much for all of your ideas on healthy snacks to grab the next time you get the urge!

1. Popcorn (Orville Redenbacher’s Smart Pop! – 100 calories for 6 cups)
2. Nuts (Almonds, Walnuts, Brazil, Hazelnuts, Pistachios)
3. Dark Chocolate (With or without almonds, chili peppers)
4. McDonald’s Reduced Fat Ice Cream Cone, Green Tea Ice Cream, Fat Free Whipping Cream. frozen, Skinny Cow Ice Cream
5. Hard boiled eggs
6. Fruit if earlier in the day, Chiquita Pineapple Bites, freeze dried grapes
7. High Fiber, Granola or Protein Bars (No more than 5 grams of added sugar)
8. Seeds (Sunflower, Pumpkin, Chia)
9. Beans
10. Greek Yogurt, Laughing Cow Light Cream Swiss Cheese, Sargento Natural Reduced Fat Colby Jack Snacks, mozzarella sticks, Mini Babybel Bell Cheese
11. Veggie Straws, Taro Chips, Kale Chips, Olive Chips, Tostitos Blue Corn Tortilla Chips, Pretzel Sticks, Wasa Whole Grain Crackers, Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips ,100% Whole Wheat Pita Chips, 100% Whole Wheat Pretzels
12. Sweet Potato Fries (Baked)
13. 100-Calorie Air Popped Potato Chips
14. Frozen Fruit Popsicles
15. Healthy Choice Fudge Bars
16. 3 slices of cucumbers with 2 tbsp. hummus
17. Mini rice cakes
18. Cheese Baby Gold Fish
19. 1 medium orange and 20 almonds

Final note: You will have to watch the total calories at the end of the day. These snacks are designed to hold you until your next meal or have something late at night before you go to bed. The goal is to enjoy eating healthy and learning what a normal day should look like while you are losing weight but also a maintenance program when you reach your goal. You should consume no more than 200 calories at snack time – snack calories can add up very quickly. If you are on a 1600 calorie diet, 3 meals at 400, 2 snacks at 200 = 1600. Be very wise with your spending and attack the fat! Lynette