Snacks are foods eaten on the go between meals. Usually this category includes sandwiches, chips, cookies, crackers and all kinds of sweets.
The harm and benefits of snacking
To suppress the feeling of hunger that occurs during the working day, foods with a high calorie content are often used that do not provide long satiety. After a chocolate bar or a packet of chips, thoughts about food come back very quickly. It turns out that more than 300 kilocalories were eaten completely in vain.
Snacking on foods high in fast carbohydrates is also harmful. Butter baked goods and sweets are quickly absorbed by the body, dramatically increase blood sugar levels, but cannot satisfy hunger for a long time. A hearty snack should be balanced and contain different nutrients: carbohydrates, proteins and fats. A longer satiety effect is provided by healthy foods with low calorie content: fruits, vegetables, cereal bread, low-fat cottage cheese and cheese.
You cannot completely get rid of snacks. They help to satisfy a little hunger, which will further prevent overeating. Thanks to snacks, the digestive system receives a full and even load throughout the day, the feeling of fatigue decreases, mood improves and physical and mental performance increases. Blood sugar is constantly maintained at a normal level.
Healthy snacks
It must be remembered that a snack is not a complete meal, therefore its energy value should not exceed 200 kilocalories.
The ideal fast food for a slightly hungry person is nuts. 30 grams of nuts contain about 170 calories, 15 g of fat, 7 g of carbohydrates and 6 g of protein, as well as vitamins and other useful microelements. Protein foods well satisfy hunger and do not cause an increase in blood sugar levels: boiled or baked meat, fish, eggs, cottage cheese and cheese.
Low fat yogurt can be a healthy snack in the workplace. To make it more nutritious, add some flaxseeds, dried fruit, or ground nuts to the glass. Fresh fruits and berries are a great source of carbohydrates and fiber. To increase the calorie content of these products, add proteins and fats, it is recommended to use them with cottage cheese, kefir or yogurt.
Vegetables as a snack are best eaten in salads seasoned with yogurt or vegetable oil. Vegetable chips will help to cope with slight hunger: carrots, peppers, turnips, asparagus, zucchini - finely chopped and slightly dried.
