Over the past couple of weeks, I have had the pleasure of speaking with some of you by phone.  One of the questions many of you had was “What are the best foods to snack on?”  For some of you snacking is the only way you consume food because of time constraints.  This is not a bad thing.  In fact it can prove to be very beneficial when it comes to weight loss.  Eating 3 balanced meals combined with 2-3 snacks throughout the day will help keep your metabolism working at a fast rate.  Here are some examples of healthy snacks:

• Fruits and vegetables. Eating fruits and vegetables provides a feeling of fullness with little to no fat and only a small number of calories. Fruits and vegetables also provide vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients.
• Whole grains. Whole-grain snacks are rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates, which give you energy with staying power. Look for items such as low-fat whole-grain crackers, whole-grain pretzels and whole-grain crispbreads.
• Nuts and seeds. Nuts and seeds provide protein, so you will feel fuller longer. They can be high in fat, but it’s mostly monounsaturated, a healthy kind of fat. Nuts and seeds are high in calories, however, so don’t eat them in large quantities.
• Low-fat dairy products. Cheese, yogurt and other dairy products are good sources of calcium and protein, plus many other vitamins and minerals. Choose the low-fat versions. Some yogurts have extra added sugar, so look for low-calorie or “light” varieties.

I will get even more specific and help out with a grocery list 🙂  Good luck everyone and please share any other great snack options you come up with.  For those of you who have a Trader Joe’s close by, take advantage of it!! They have a wide variety of healthy snack options 🙂

-carrot sticks

-celery sticks

-cucombers

-peppers

-Reduced fats wheat thins or triscuts

-pita chips

-Rice cakes or crackers

-Dry Cereal

-Oatmeal

-Hummus

-1/3 less fat cream cheese

-low fat string cheese

-low fat salad dressing

-lunch meat (turkey, ham, chicken…great source of protein)

-Greek yogurt

-Almonds, pastachios, peanuts, sunflower seeds, chia seeds

-Natural peanut butter

-Apples

-Pears

-Plums

-Grapes

-Hard boiled eggs