| In the past, snack food has gotten a bad rap, mostly | | | | (10% of your daily value). |
| because people associate it with binging. However, | | | | Fruit snacks are a good way to instantly feel |
| snacking throughout the day has many benefits, | | | | rejuvenated and full of energy and spunk. A banana is |
| particularly if you're looking to reach a healthy weight. | | | | a great source of potassium (11%), but also offers |
| First of all, having 4-5 healthy snack foods throughout | | | | 35% of the daily value of Vitamin B6, and all for just |
| the day will keep you feeling satiated so you don't | | | | 110 calories! Cantaloupe is another surprisingly healthy |
| suddenly feel starving and prone to overeating. | | | | fruit, delivering 100% of your daily vitamin C needs in |
| Secondly, grazing helps keep your metabolism running | | | | just one cup. For a good vegetable snack food, you |
| and burning calories as you're frequently digesting. | | | | can't go wrong with broccoli, which delivers 68% of the |
| Snacking also helps fight fatigue by keeping your blood | | | | daily value of vitamin C in just 1/2 cup, as well as |
| sugar at a normal level. The latest findings suggest that | | | | vitamin A and as much calcium as a glass of milk. To |
| having six mini-meals a day versus three medium-large | | | | jazz it up, try dipping it in no-fat nacho cheese or |
| meals per day cuts cholesterol levels by 8%, which | | | | no-fat veggie dip! Another great vegetable is the |
| also reduces heart attack risk by as much as 16%! | | | | carrot, which will satisfy your vitamin A needs for the |
| Healthy foods don't always have to taste like | | | | whole day. |
| Styrofoam. For a snack, bagels and bran muffins taste | | | | Of course choosing the right snack food alone won't |
| pretty darn good! A 200-calorie bagel will give you 11% | | | | help you with your weight loss goals. You'll also need |
| of your daily recommended iron, which is particularly | | | | to drink a glass of water each time you snack to help |
| good for women who don't always retain iron so well. | | | | regulate your body and help you to feel satisfied. |
| Additionally, you'll get solid doses of B vitamins, like | | | | Exercising 3-5 times each week is also essential in |
| niacin, riboflavin and thiamin. You may be tempted to | | | | keeping the body machine working optimally. Lastly, |
| load on the cream cheese, but there are delicious | | | | don't forget to exercise portion control; never eat from |
| flavored skim ricottas that come in blueberry and | | | | the bag and always measure out the proper serving |
| strawberry that might be a healthier choice. A bran | | | | size! |
| muffin delivers three grams of fiber and 1.8 mg of iron | | | | |