04
Feb
2014
Enjoying a healthy snack at least twice a day can help stabilize your blood sugar, curb hunger and fight cravings for unhealthy food. To avoid getting so famished that you'll be tempted to overeat at mealtime, plan to have a snack in the midmorning and again in the midafternoon. Make your snacks count by following these tips:
Sticking to a healthy snacking routine will help you stay on track with your weight-loss goals, and the South Beach Diet provides nutritious and delicious options with snacks you'll love.
| Choose a protein- and fiber-rich snack. Pairing vegetables or whole grains with lean protein can keep cravings at bay. Try a snack roll-up made with all-natural, lower-sodium turkey or ham slices, Dijon mustard, and a slice of reduced-fat Swiss cheese. Or enjoy hummus with celery sticks, bell pepper slices, or broccoli or cauliflower florets. Nonfat plain yogurt with fresh berries and nuts or whole grain crackers with almond butter are other healthy choices. |
| Read packaged snacks labels carefully. If you're on the go and don't have time to prepare a healthy snack, bars and smoothies can be a good option, but be sure to check the ingredients list to make sure they don't contain any artificial flavors or sweeteners. The South Beach Diet 100-Calorie Snack Bars and Smoothies are free of artificial sweeteners and flavors and they contain at least 6 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein per serving to keep you satisfied. |
| Plan your snacks in advance. South Beach Diet calls this Strategic Snacking. If you invest in a lightweight, reusable lunch bag and stock it with small zip-seal bags filled with healthy snacks such as part-skim mozzarella cheese sticks, cut-up veggies, almonds or walnuts, or hard-boiled eggs, you can resist the urge to hit the vending machine. |
