I’m an all or nothing kind of gal and this really isn’t a great trait when it comes to trying to eat healthy. I often find myself having eaten breakfast around 8am, Lunch around 1 or 2 and then Dinner around 7. There are times that I don’t snack much and this is a big NO-NO for several reasons. First, your metabolism is like an engine and if you don’t oil it regularly it gets sorta ticked off and slows down. For best results, you should be eating something every 2-3 hours during the day to keep your metabolism happy. The second reason is that, by only eating three times a day, I tend to eat more and make different choices than I might if I were not absolutely famished by the time I slowed down enough to eat.
This is a dilemma for lots of moms, whether you stay at home or work in or out of the home, there is no denying that we mammas are a busy bunch. Taking time to feed our bodies small nutritious snacks helps fuel us both physically and emotionally. Chances are that at the very time of day when your toddler is throwing herself down in the middle of Whole Foods telling you she hates you, is most likely the same time of day that your own body and emotions are struggling stay stable. This state of being is partially due to the fact that your child has turned into a demon and partially because your body is running low on enough energy and strength to handle the situation!
I think there are periods of time in our lives when things go a little crazy and we lose our way. We take shortcuts or consciously go against what we know because it is easier. When this is the case we just need to reel ourselves in and make changes going forward. So, if
you are not fueling yourself appropriately STOP and make a conscious decision to change this. Here are a list of five of my favorite healthy snacks that have a wee bit of protein for extra mileage.
good point as an RD I agree
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Mmmmm…nuts and seeds are one of my faves; thanks for making crave them with that first picture.
I also enjoy soy yogurt with flax seed sprinkled on top, and smoothies come in handy whether for snacking or as a healthy meal.
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I would say to beware of low-fat yogurt. As I am currently studying nutrition, many of the commercial “fruit-flavored” low-fat yogurts are not a healthy option. They cut out the fat and add tons of processing additives and artificial sugar. Some of them can have as much as 30 grams of sugar. The healthiest option would be a small portion of plain greek-style yogurt (which has healthy good-for-you fat)with some fresh fruit,flax seed,nuts. etc on top. The healthy fat and protein mixture will keep your body fueled and more satisfied then any low-fat variety. Don’t be afraid of healthy fat..your body needs it..just in moderation.
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