Candied Roasted Almonds & Snackage

I’m a big fan of snacking.  Who doesn’t like eating small treats in between regular meals.  Really, who doesn’t?  I can’t think of anyone.

So long as you are eating delicious, healthy and nutritious snacks, snacking should be a daily part of your life and here’s why:

• When you eat regularly and consistently, your body realizes food is always coming, so it’s more likely to let go of fat.
• If you are always hungry, you body goes into famine mode, slowing your metabolism.
• You’re less likely to overeat at your next meal if you’re not starving.
• Snacking prevents swings in blood sugar, especially important for diabetics, caused by eating too large of a meal or waiting too long in between meals.
• Snacking can give you an energy boost and helps fuel your body in between meals.
• I’ve mentioned this before, but when I get hungry, I get grumpy.  Snacking prevents this.  Best reason ever!

So now you know why snacking is important, but equally important is the type of snacks you choose to ingest.  Remember, food is fuel, so you want to ingest the good stuff.  And by good stuff, I don’t mean greasy chips or sweet candy bars.  These choices will give you a quick sugar fix and then a hard crash.  And in the long run, they won’t sustain you or leave you feeling satisfied or happy.  You can eat them, but keep in mind, they come with a side of heart disease and a dash of guilt.

Have no fear, because snacks can be delicious, healthy and nutritious.  In order to make this happen though, you have to surround yourself with the good stuff.

I love fruit, so I keep a large bowl at home and at the office, which I restock weekly with bananas, apples and pears.  This one is a no brainer because there’s nothing to it.  Go to the grocery story, buy fruit, bring it home or to work, rinse and repeat.  It doesn’t get easier than that.

As an added bonus, apples speed up your metabolism, which allows you to burn more calories, pears are chock full of fiber, which leaves you feeling fuller longer, and bananas help prevent high blood pressure and protect against atherosclerosis (I’ll be honest, I don’t know what this is, but it doesn’t sound good).  And if you’re still feeling hungry, have another piece because it’s just fruit.

Yeah, yeah, I know fruit has a lot of sugar, but it’s not the same as the processed white stuff you’d find in a candy bar and your body knows this and reacts accordingly.  Plus, it’s full of the vitamins and nutrients your body needs to run well.  You can’t say that about your bag of chips (two snaps).

If fruit is not your thing, there are other options.  How about veggies?  Bell peppers, cucumbers, carrots.  Or celery, slathered with some natural peanut butter.  Yes, a treat I remember from my good old preschool days, along with nap time (still a favorite) and coloring.  It was good then, and it’s still good now.  If veggies aren’t up your alley either, how about hard boiled eggs, nuts, trail mix, granola, or energy bites.  Along with fruit, these are staples in my house.

On Saturday or Sunday, I invest some time into preparing my snacks for the week because If I have them handy, it’s what I’m going to eat. Plan to succeed. If not, you’re setting yourself up to fail.  A quick option for me is to hard boil a batch of eggs, which I then bring into the office (I’m sure my coworkers love the smell).  When I get back from the gym (I go during my lunch hour), this is typically the first thing I eat with a little bit of sea salt and cracked black pepper for an extra burst of flavor.

Another favorite: I Love Nuts (hee, hee); walnuts, pistachios, almonds, hazelnuts, the list goes on and on.  But for almonds, I typically roast them with a touch of raw sugar, which satisfies my sweet tooth.

Now before I send you on your way to snacking bliss, keep in mind this is only a snack, not a full blown meal.  So, don’t go completely crazy and eat all your great concoctions in one sitting.  Moderation is key here people.  The more you do it, the easier it will become.  And if you have to parse out a small plateful and put the rest away, then do it before you even start indulging. I personally have to do this, and there’s no shame in it; just prepare for it.

So without further ado, Happy Snacking to you.