Here's the truth about snacks. You've probably heard before that eating 5 smaller meals a day is better than eating 3 large meals a day. It's true. And the reason is that frequent meals may regulate insulin levels. The result is lower cholesterol production when your body metabolizes food.
The trick is, to increase the number of healthy meals you eat, but to keep your required total calorie intake for the day the same (assuming you have the correct calorie intake for your body mass). That means planning what you eat and dividing it into smaller portions eaten more frequently throughout the day.
This is easier than it may seem, and makes regular consumption of fresh fruit and raw vegetables very simple.
Washed and/or peeled, they can be put into a ziplock bag and tucked into your briefcase to be eaten during the day. Snack on them in between meals. Eat a banana midmorning instead of on top of your cornflakes. Drink a glass of low-fat milk instead of a cup of coffee, it will boost your daily requirement of protein and calcium. A bag of trailmix or a yoghurt are also easy on-the-go foods.
If you like to work out at the gym after a day at the office, snack one hour before you start exercising to give your body the energy it needs to perform. A mixure of protein, carbs and fats are the key. Peanut butter on full corn bread, or Ryvita and cottage cheese. I follow up my workouts with about 200 calories, such as a glass of fat-free milk and a banana.
Most of us are surprised when we see the actual size of an average single portion of food. If you don't already, start reading the side labels on foods you buy. Measure out the portion or serving size that is recommended. It doesn't look a lot on your plate does it? But you can add to the bulk with fresh fruit and vegetables, without going overboard on calories.
You may need to retrain your mind and body to accept smaller portions and spread out your daily meals. But the benefits are tremendous. More energy for longer periods of time, better alertness throughout the day, and better weight control.
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As seen in Oprah’s Magazine!