There's a great amount of talk focusing on the best breakfast meals, the healthiest dinner recipes, and the most filling lunches. Indeed, these three major meals contribute to daily productivity, functioning, and overall health, but what about afternoon snacks?
The afternoon slump can be a burden for many, especially those who want to stay energized during this time of day. Accomplish more and stay healthy with the following snack foods recommended by health experts under Nutrition and Dietetics from Share Care.
Keri Gans: According to Gans, you could still satisfy your cravings while staying healthy. For sweet cravings, she recommends mixing a piece of fruit with half-ounce nuts. You can also try other options: one cup plain low-fat yogurt with berries or jam, a half cup of low-fat cottage cheese with fresh and frozen berries, or a simple, tall decaf soy latte from your local coffee shop. If you are craving chocolate, good snack options include 8 ounces low-fat chocolate milk, 8 ounces hot chocolate made with low-fat milk, or 8 ounces of a chocolate soy beverage. For salty food cravings, a serving of soy crisps is not only delicious but healthy as well. You can also try a half cup low-fat cottage cheese, 1 cup of miso soup, 1 ounce roasted edamame or salted nuts, or a half cup salted boiled edamame.
Rose Reisman: Reisman finds that maintaining a healthy body weight means eating every 2 to 3 hours, but this implies eating healthy foods every time. Healthy snacks between meals is imperative to this routine. Eating at this pace prevents hunger, which often leads to overeating at meal time, she says. If done right, snacking helps boost your energy by keeping balanced sugar levels. She recommends food with whole grains, low fat dairy, fruits and vegetables, and lean protein, such as the following: fresh fruit with nuts or cheese, raw vegetables or whole wheat crackers, peanut butter with banana or whole grain crackers, lean protein of sliced chicken with whole wheat bread, or egg and whole grain crackers.
