It’s pretty difficult to work hard and focus if you are running around your office or workplace in fumes. You need to fuel up! Lunch of course helps you in keeping the energy levels in place, but your body can definitely benefit from some smart snacking. Snacking isn’t bad for you; provided you do it in moderation and make healthy choices.
While choosing the right snacks, look out for three basic things; it should be sufficient, have a mixture of nutrients and is convenient to consume.
If you’re very hungry then eat a healthy snack rather than starving yourself till the next meal. As boring as HEALTHY SNACKS might sound , you would be surprised at just how tasty they are, all the new snacks you’ll get to try, and how easy they are to tote around as you carry on with your fast-paced life.
So let’s toss the excuses aside and run through some of the healthy, nutritious items that you should be adding to the top of your list.
Fruits and Vegetables: They are the part of healthy, balanced diet. It’s also very convenient to carry, just wash them and bring them to your work place. Opt for apples, pears, cucumber, carrot, Low -sodium tomato. Also try, fruit and veggie smoothie, Banana, grapes, fresh fruit salad. All these can help you stay fit.
Dry-Fruits: Almonds, dates & figs etc. are packed with healthy fats, energy and other vitamins and minerals. However, we suggest skipping the salted and sweetened nuts since they add unnecessary calories.
Dairy Products: It is a great snacking option with a lot of variety. It fills up the stomach with good bacteria and stocks up high on calcium and magnesium. Some good options are: fat free milk /soy milk, fat free cheese, or Plain low fat yogurt.
Other Nutrients: These are low on calories and high on taste such as popcorn, whole grain crackers, chickpeas and seeds.
Do not buy into the idea of starving between the meals, add snacks to your day to have a healthier life.
–The writer of this column is Divya KP a nutritionist.
