Healthy Snack Choices to Stay Slim

Healthy snacks can improve health, mood, reduce hunger, and keep us motivated. When dieting, various methods are used to get a slim body, including avoiding snacks in between meals. Is this step effective? What if you choose a healthy snack? If you deliberately avoid snacks to reduce calorie intake, it helps you think again. Besides being able to help supply energy between meals, healthy snacks can also help you avoid overeating, while maintaining the metabolism of fat burning in the body. Not surprisingly, a healthy snack can actually help prevent weight moving up, even helping to reduce it.

Content of Fiber and Protein

In general, snacks are associated with sweet foods, such as cakes, biscuits, ice cream, or popcorn nuts. But snacks like this contain more fat and high carbohydrates with minimal nutritional value. Though many healthy snack choices are sourced from fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds, as well as low-fat dairy products. Eating snacks in small portions several times a day can help maintain the body's metabolism and blood sugar which has an effect on excitatory hunger. Hunger will only slow down your metabolism, making you more vulnerable to gain weight. In contrast to sweet snacks and high calories which will only provide energy in a short time, healthy snacks will supply energy for a longer period. Healthy snacks will also avoid the drowsiness that usually occurs because of consuming too much sugar. Therefore, it is important to eat snacks with the right ratio of nutrients and calories. One combination of healthy snack nutrition is protein and fiber. Protein will help the development of leaner muscle mass while promoting metabolism and increasing calorie burning. Meanwhile, fiber will help improve digestion and prevent you from consuming more fat and sugar. Then what is the right portion of snacks? If you want a snack that is optimal and does not interfere with portions at mealtime, it is recommended that the snack contains no more than 200 calories, with 10 grams of protein, and 5 grams of fiber.

The Right Type of Food

To maintain and lose weight, snacks can be an important tool. Meeting the body's nutritional needs every few hours will maintain metabolic performance and stable blood sugar. It's just that, healthy snacks sometimes seem boring. Especially if you only consume the same type. Not only cause boredom, it could be that your snack nutritional intake is not in accordance with what the body needs. No wonder then, donuts or ice cream looks very tempting. Don't worry, you can choose or make your own combination from the food groups below as a healthy snack mix.

• Fruit and Vegetable

By consuming both of these foods will give you a feeling of fullness with little calorie intake. Fruits and vegetables also contain vitamins, minerals and fiber.

• Nuts and seeds

Thanks to the protein content in nuts and seeds, this type of snack will make you feel full longer. Both also contain healthy unsaturated fats. But do not consume too much because the calorie level is quite high.

• Low-fat dairy products

Cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products are a source of calcium and protein, as well as vitamins and minerals. To get healthy snacks, choose low-fat products. Some have sugar added. We recommend that you choose products with additional unsweetened labels or low calorie labels

• Whole grains

Snacks made from whole grains, such as oatmeal, are rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates to keep the body energized. According to research, fiber-rich foods are thought to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and being overweight. If you don't like the bland oatmeal, just mix it with the beans.

Example Combination of Healthy Snacks Still Delicious

With less planning and preparation, you can get healthy snacks within your reach. Included in it as a step to ward off the temptation of high-calorie snacks. Here are some healthy snack ideas but still delicious on the tongue.

• Edamame beans

One cup of edamame (155 grams) can cover 1/3 of your daily fiber and protein needs. If you want to feel full longer, eat directly from the skin.

• Banana with peanut butter

Bananas will taste more interesting if you add a tablespoon of peanut butter on top. In addition to carbohydrate intake, you also get protein at the same time that will maintain energy levels for hours. Research shows that eating peanut butter in the morning can reduce your appetite throughout the day.

• Boiled eggs and long beans

The combination of boiled eggs and long beans is a healthy snack that is very suitable. The fiber-rich content of long beans balances the natural protein from eggs. In addition, asparagus also contains folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin A and minerals.

• Oatmeal and fruits

Don't misinterpret oatmeal consumption only for breakfast. Oatmeal which is actually good for heart health can be consumed at any time. With high fiber content, oatmeal will help keep blood sugar levels stable. Additional fruits not only enrich the taste, but also provide additional fiber. You can try fruits like bananas, dates, and raisins to complete the oatmeal dish.

• Apples and fat free milk

Eating apples as a snack is a good choice. But it's better if it is equipped with protein to make it more filling, like fat-free milk. The protein content in it will maintain energy levels and delay hunger for the next few hours.

• Green tea

Does snack always mean food? Not really. Instead of a high-sugar soda, you can choose green tea. Especially if you don't feel too hungry. Green tea is considered capable of helping people who are trying to lose weight thanks to the antioxidant content that encourages the body's metabolism. But make sure the green tea drink you consume is original brewed green tea, not in bottles or cans that have been added with artificial sweeteners, or in other foods such as ice cream or cakes.

In addition to the above combinations, you can make healthy snacks that suit your own taste. With proper nutrition and portions, plus regular exercise and a healthy lifestyle, it's not impossible that this dish can actually help you gain the desired weight.