Power Snacks

I try to eat several small snacks throughout the day to keep my energy and metabolism up. I love food and am strongly food-motivated. I can get through just about any chore (think giant piles of laundry) if there is a snack to look forward to at the end. Here are five simple rules for snacking that will keep energy high and sweet-tooth abated without fear of weight gain.

1) NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS.  They are bad for you, don't we all know that by now?

2)  PUT DOWN THE PROTEIN BAR. For the best snacking, you want to keep to foods with less than three ingredients. Bars promise protein and energy, but most pack quite a punch of sugar, which will cause you to be hungry again and could cause fatigue and headaches.



3) HAVE MORE THAN ONE Nuts, dried fruits, fresh fruits, wassa crackers, rice cake, small portions of meat and cheese are great snacking. The key to keeping yourself satisfied is to have at least two foods together. i.e. dried apricots and almonds, apples and cheese, peanut butter and celery, almond butter and apples, rice cake with slices fruit and peanut butter or cream cheese.




4) PLAN AHEAD when making breakfast or lunches in the morning, slice up an apple and cheese and put a "snack plate" in the fridge for easy access, or in a baggy that you can grab on the way out of the house. This simple act helps in saving $$$ as having your own snacks on hand may keep you from  driving through for  fast food in moments of weakness

5) SECRET STASH. every mommy needs a secret stash of special treats.  You may have to  redefine what you think of as a treat. My treats are of the dark chocolate persuasion. The darker the better since the darker chocolate has less sugar and milk fat. I currently have a cup of dark chocolate pieces in the pantry which I visit 2-3 times a day. **this is not dark chocolate truffles. I buy plain dark chocolate bars, sometimes with almonds, not Hershey's dark chocolate bars or kisses, they have too much sugar. If you are going for dark chocolate get the good stuff, it will last you a while.



Don't forget to hydrate. I will often mistake thirst for hunger.  Green teas are great for you, hot or iced. If you drink coffee, avoid or cut back on sweatened creamers. Try coffee with unsweetened almond milk or half and half. Dust with cocoa, or break out the grater and add some dark chocolate shavings.