Snacking in-between meals has gotten a pretty bad rap. It can be worse for your body to go for hours and hours without eating. Healthy snacks between meals actually give your metabolism a boost. Plan your snacks to keep your body burning calories all day long, and embrace in-between meal snacking.
Why Snacking Works
When you eat, your metabolism switches on to begin the process of turning food into energy. If you go for hours and hours without eating during the day, your metabolism is lying dormant. Bodybuilders don’t go more than three or four hours, at most, without having something to eat. This keeps their energy high and their bodies working at peak levels. You should do the same if you want to burn calories more efficiently every day. Pepper your day with healthy, low-cal snacks to give your metabolism a little kick-start and keep your body burning calories all daylong.
Don’t be Afraid of Carbs
Carbs have a bad reputation. You may have heard that you should avoid them at all costs, but this is a bad idea. Carbohydrates give your body energy, which you need. The trick is to eat healthy carbs, and not too many of them. Stick to whole grains. Instead of potato chips, munch on a handful of wheat crackers. Swap your white bread for whole wheat or multigrain bread, and eat only cereals made with grain.
What to Eat
Take small snack breaks after breakfast and after lunch. If you eat an early dinner, have a snack a couple of hours or an hour before you go to bed. It’s perfectly healthy to snack between meals, as long as you’re eating sensible meals and small snacks. Choose snacks that are filling and healthy. Fresh fruit, protein-rich yogurt, a small cup of cereal, steamed vegetables—all these foods are filling, but low in calories and rich in vitamins and minerals. Eat snacks regularly to keep your metabolism going, and keep your body burning calories all day. You’ll stay more energized and feel more full throughout the day, and you’ll find it much easier to maintain a healthy diet. Snacking works, and it’s a lot better than feeling hungry most of the day.