LA fitness news

Safe snacking

All but the most conscientious of us find it difficult to make it through the day without snacking. That's fine - in fact eating regular smaller meals is a good thing - unless those snacks tend to be the lethal high fat or high calorie foods that pile on the extra pounds. Here are a few tips around sensible snacking:

1. Plan: Going hungry just makes you pig out when regular meal times come around so - assuming that you don't work at home - plan to have some healthy snacks with you during the day. If you don't, the chances are that you will be sorely tempted to nip out and buy the unhealthy ones.

2. Options: At home make sure you stock a variety of healthy options: low fat yoghurts, vegetable dips (carrot sticks and hummus for example) and rice cakes are all good. A handful of almonds is also a winner.

3. Ignore the rubbish snacks. Try to avoid buying crisps, biscuits, chocolates, sweets etc.

4. Fruit: Fill up the fruit bowl and keep it in sight. You may even like to prepare some fresh fruit salad for general consumption. Better to eat fruit rather than drink it because the fibre in the skin is so valuable.

5. Start Well: You already know this one, but don't skip breakfast, you'll pay the price later.

6. Snack Attack: Get some ziplock bags, measure out 100 calories (some say 200 calories is okay) of your favourite healthy snacks - dried fruit, nuts, crackers - pop said bag in your desk draw and produce it when you are hit by a snack attack. Works brilliantly.

7. Carbs: Avoid snacking on carbs alone - they won't fill you up for long - try having low-fat cheese with your apple for example.

8. De-bag: Try to avoid eating straight from the bag or box. Researchers have shown that you'll eat more this way. Dish out a healthy portion into a bowl and put the rest of the bag away for next time.

9. H2O: Water isn't exactly a snack but if you drink it regularly - sip don't gulp - you will find it helps to kill the hunger pangs.

10. Focus: Try not to get distracted while you are snacking - it's surprising how much more you will eat when your mind is occupied with other things. Be mindful of your eating and remember to eat slowly - inhaling calories (no matter how healthy) is never a good idea.