It’s 3pm and you are feeling hungry. Dinner isn’t for a few more hours. Do you reach for a snack or wait it out? I say reach for the snack and here is why:

Snacking is an excellent way to add nutrients into your diet

Snacking is a great opportunity to add extra nutrients and diversity into your diet. Eating a diverse range of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, pulses and wholegrains supports our gut health and provides our bodies with a wide range of micronutrients. Different coloured fruits and vegetables contain different phytochemicals which benefit our bodies in different ways. Instead of reaching for highly processed and packaged foods when choosing a snack, reach for diverse and colourful foods. For example, snacking on cucumber and carrot sticks with hummus will provide fibre, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals from the carrots and cucumber and protein from the chickpeas in the hummus.

Snacking can reduce hunger between meals and keep you feeling energized

Your body uses food as fuel and so if you are feeling low on energy a snack may help. Furthermore, reducing hunger between meals by reaching for a snack may prevent overeating later in the day. Try incorporating protein into your snack, as this can keep you feeling fuller for longer. Greek yogurt is high in protein and could be made into a delicious snack by adding some berries and walnuts. The berries will add vitamins and phytochemicals and the walnuts will add minerals and healthy fats.

Food also serves purposes other than nourishment

Yes, food nourishes our bodies, but it also serves social and cultural purposes and can be a source of enjoyment. We do not need to feel guilty for giving ourselves permission to consume food for reasons other than it fuelling our bodies. For example, if you are out with friends and somebody suggests getting some appies, you may choose to do so purely for the social and enjoyment factor.

Questions about snacking or ways to add nutrients and diversity into your diet?    

Reach out to me today and I would be happy to help!