Are snacks good for weight loss?

Are snacks good for weight loss?

Snacking can derail your weight loss efforts or can enhance them. Choosing the right kind of snacks can help you stay on track, avoid overeating and consuming empty calories. The desire to snack can be caused by hunger, stress, boredom, etc. But the key is finding the right type of snack to satisfy your urge to eat.

Snacking between meals can actually help you eat less at mealtimes. Eating every three to four hours makes your metabolism work more steadily, so you burn more calories throughout the day. You must refrain from eating anything four hours before going to bed. You burn fewer calories while you sleep, so you don’t want to eat anything you can’t burn before bed. This will also help reduce acid in the stomach, minimizing the risk of acid reflux.

If you find yourself snacking because you’re bored, you should find something else to do, like take a walk or read a book. Are you eating because you are stressed? If so, how can you reduce your stress? Sometimes it is necessary to attack the underlying problems that lead to overeating. It’s all too easy to grab a candy bar from the vending machine, gobble it up, and then feel guilty. Plan ahead and have healthy snacks on hand for times when you really need them. Come up with eating alternatives that you can use during emotional periods.

There are plenty of healthy options when it comes to snacking. Unbuttered popcorn is a great snack. Four cups contain only 60 calories and 2 grams of fat and also contain 4 grams of fiber. You can add spices like chili or garlic to give it a lot of flavor without adding fat. Nuts are another nutritious snack. An ounce of nuts will provide you with beneficial fats (monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat), fewer calories, protein, and fiber. Whole or whole wheat tortillas with low-fat cheese can be heated in a microwave and are a satisfying alternative to chips and cheese sauce. Another one to try is low-fat yogurt with fresh fruit mixed in. Fruits and vegetables are always great to snack on too.

Stay away from donuts, buns, muffins, and French fries. These contain more calories than some foods. Most snack foods that come in 1-ounce or 2-ounce packages should be avoided. These prepackaged snacks are almost always high in calories and fat and low in any kind of nutritional value. Always look at the package labels. If sugar is one of the first 4 or 5 ingredients, you definitely should NOT eat it.

As long as you choose healthy snacks, you can still enjoy snacking between meals, when you’re bored or stressed, and any time you want. If you choose your snacks wisely, they won’t ruin the weight loss results you’ve worked so hard for and may even help you eat less.

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