Even though I wrote yesterday about inedible rewards, we’ve still gotta eat, right?
I’ve learned that the best way to tame the beast in my belly is to eat every few hours.
I eat breakfast around 8 a.m. (yes, at my desk … probably not the best scenario, but for me, the most realistic).
Somewhere around 10, I snack. Lunch at noon, and another snack between 3 and 4 p.m.
Dinner is a crapshoot for us these days, anywhere from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Our first priority when we get home is feeding our son. Sometimes we eat dinner before he goes to bed, sometimes after.
I’m not saying that’s the best timeline; it’s just mine.
So, about those snacks. They’re a must. Otherwise, I will go whole-hog on lunch and dinner. And I’ve been even more ravenous since I started working out.
The trick, as always, is to be prepared.
I have a mainstay of snacks that I buy/prepare each week to take to work.
Anything with a lot of fiber and/or a lot of protein is key for me. Those snacks keep me more satisfied.
I still cut up my vegetables each week and put them in individual baggies so I can grab and go. My favorites are: yellow, red and orange bell peppers, cucumbers and grape tomatoes.
I also like the BabyBel cheeses, though they’re pricey. String cheese is a more economical option.
I keep a huge bag of unsalted almonds in my office. My husband bought the unsalted, and I was disappointed, but I’ve now gotten to where I actually like those better. They are a little sweet.
My favorite new snack is pictured. It’s called Smart Food, which I was scared would translate into Stupid Cardboard Taste, but I looooove these popcorn clusters.
It’s cranberry almond, and get this … it even has real cranberry and almonds in it!
This snack is 120 calories and 5 grams of fiber. It comes in convenient individual servings (otherwise I’d eat a whole big bag, for sure).
Most importantly, it’s delicious.
What snacks get you through the day?
I like the Kashi TLC (Tasty Little Chewies) granola bars in Honey Almond Flax. They're surprisingly not twig-and-barky and also not too-too sweet. Big hunks of crunch almond, 7 grams of protein, 4 grams of fiber, whole grains ... pretty yummy.
ReplyDeleteI also like to have lots of fruit on hand - apples, berries, pears, bananas ... and Cheerios. And yogurt. Hey, I breakfast at my desk, too! Just all day long. But if I have healthy stuff I'm less likely to go raid the candy bowl.
I love a small handfull of raw english walnuts with about 20-30 dark chocolate chips. May not be the healthiest but both satisfies my chocolate craving and tummy till supper, without overdoing too much. Also if they weren't so expensive I'd eat blueberries till I popped. This is why I've bought some blueberry bushes! Hope to have a good crop someday.
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