Strength for Her

An article in CNN suggests that snacking can help with moods, energy levels, appetite, and weight control.  

“There’s even evidence that spreading calories out in frequent mini-meals and snacks requires less insulin, which can reduce your risk of developing diabetes,” says David Katz, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Yale Prevention Research Center in New Haven, Connecticut. “Snacking helps you avoid the waning of energy that comes with consuming large meals.”

 My thoughts: Snacking is a very individual thing. For me, I control my weight better when I stick to only eating during planned meals. At times, I feel snacking simply whets my appetite and makes me hungry for more, whereas if I wait, the urge for food doesn’t sneak up until mealtime. But for some, snacks provide a needed energy boost and a way to control appetite and avoid overeating at mealtimes.

The most important thing is choosing the right snacks. The article mentions how most ’snack foods’ tend to be things that are high in calories and easy to overeat, like chips, pretzels, popcorn, etc. By avoiding these for better quality snacks, like fruits, vegetables, nuts, or other protein, snacking can be part of a healthy and balanced diet.

“The danger in snacking is that it can add extra calories to your day,” Katz says. “By consuming 100 calories per day above what your body needs to maintain its weight, you can gain 10 pounds in a year.” That’s why it’s important to budget calories for snacks, perhaps by shaving some calories from your meals. If you normally consume 1,800 calories per day, you might divide that into 500 calories for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, then allow yourself two 150-calorie snacks.

Read the whole article here.