6 Unhealthy Snacking Habits You Need To Stop
•Weight loss
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Despite the myths and misconceptions around snacks, snacking can absolutely be part of a healthy balanced diet.
They are a great way to keep the hunger at bay, add nutrients to your diet and boost your mood. However, there are lots of snacking mistakes that can counteract the benefits of snacking. Below are some common snacking mistakes, plus tips on how to course-correct!
Now we’re not saying don’t eat snacks such as celery sticks or rice cakes if you like them. But choosing snacks solely based on the number of calories means it’s probably not going to be that satisfying and you’ll still be hungry which can lead to over-eating.
Look for snacks high in protein, fibre and healthy fats as they can slow down digestion, helping you stay full. Nuts are a great snack option with healthy fats, protein, and fibre to keep you satisfied.
Some good high protein snacks include hard-boiled eggs, chickpeas, dry-roasted edamame and jerky. All delicious and so easy to prepare or get from the store.
If you're mildly hungry or busy for a few hours and know you might not have the chance to eat, then have an early snack! If you let yourself get too hungry, you’re likely to overeat at your next snack or meal.
Eating carbohydrates is where you’ll add fibre and lots of other nutrition to your diet. Choosing healthy carbs like fruit, nuts and oats instead of chips and bread will give you longer-lasting energy and make you feel more satisfied than carbs which just give you a sugar hit!
If you're hungry you should eat something. Choose foods that are healthy and satisfying. Don’t deny your hunger just because it lands in between normal eating times.
If you're looking for the perfect guilt-free and man-sized snack to put in your bag, try A Man Bar!
They are a great way to keep the hunger at bay, add nutrients to your diet and boost your mood. However, there are lots of snacking mistakes that can counteract the benefits of snacking. Below are some common snacking mistakes, plus tips on how to course-correct!
6 common snacking mistakes
1. Filling up on unsatisfying low carb snacks
Don’t fear calories when it comes to your snacks – you need them to stay full.Now we’re not saying don’t eat snacks such as celery sticks or rice cakes if you like them. But choosing snacks solely based on the number of calories means it’s probably not going to be that satisfying and you’ll still be hungry which can lead to over-eating.
Look for snacks high in protein, fibre and healthy fats as they can slow down digestion, helping you stay full. Nuts are a great snack option with healthy fats, protein, and fibre to keep you satisfied.
2. Not eating enough protein
Not every snack has to have protein, but lots of snacky foods like crackers, chips or fruit don’t have much. High protein snacks will keep you fuller for longer, holding you over for a few hours until your next meal.Some good high protein snacks include hard-boiled eggs, chickpeas, dry-roasted edamame and jerky. All delicious and so easy to prepare or get from the store.
3. Waiting until you are starving
It’s important to remember that you don’t need to be starving to give yourself permission to have a snack.If you're mildly hungry or busy for a few hours and know you might not have the chance to eat, then have an early snack! If you let yourself get too hungry, you’re likely to overeat at your next snack or meal.
4. Neglecting carbs altogether
Protein is an important nutrient, but so are carbs.Eating carbohydrates is where you’ll add fibre and lots of other nutrition to your diet. Choosing healthy carbs like fruit, nuts and oats instead of chips and bread will give you longer-lasting energy and make you feel more satisfied than carbs which just give you a sugar hit!
5. Skipping snacks to decrease calorie intake
Skipping snacks means you're more likely to overeat at your next meal. This leads to you feeling less satisfied and eating more food than you intended.If you're hungry you should eat something. Choose foods that are healthy and satisfying. Don’t deny your hunger just because it lands in between normal eating times.
6. Not packing snacks
Whether you have a snack stash in the office, or quickly throw some healthy pre-pared snacks in your bag on the way out the door, packing healthy snacks will help save you money and stop snacking on unhealthy foods out of convenience.If you're looking for the perfect guilt-free and man-sized snack to put in your bag, try A Man Bar!
