Snacks--Keeping it Real

Bitchcakes has a really good piece on snacking which you can read here: http://msbitchcakes.blogspot.com/2010/08/weekly-meeting-topic-snacks.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FSkbT+%28*Bitch+Cakes*%29

I think the most valuable piece of advice Bitchcakes gives is to stay away from pseudo-food snacks.

That's advice I've given as well. If you're going to snack make sure it's REAL food and not processed fake foods. In fact, I generally think it's a good idea to stay away from fake food all the time, not just for snacks.

And, don't be fooled by so-called "healthy" processed snacks.

Yes, going for an organic, all natural processed snack is probably better for you then binging on something from Kraft or Nabisco, but the reality is that those processed organic treats are nothing more then a better class of fake foods. Stick to the real stuff.

That's my rule for myself. I have to admit to being a bit of an all day ruminator. I basically snack all day. Meals for me are really nothing more then slightly larger snacks.

Knowing that I like to snack all day, I keep a lot of "healthy" snacks around to make sure I don't fall off the weight management wagon.

Because I like to eat all day, most of my snacks have to be able to be taken in small amounts.

Grapes are probably one of my favorites. Whenever I need a break from work, and am feeling a bit peckish, a few grapes perk me up instantly.

Cherries, when they're in season, are also fabulous, and having to spit out the pits really slows down the eating.

Like Bitchcakes I also keep pre-peeled baby carrots and almonds on hand for snacks, although I tend to be careful with over-snacking on almonds since they are calorically dense.

Dried apricots are fantastic when you're really craving something sweet, but you also have to watch how much of these you eat.

I also love to make my own trail mixes. I buy raisins and other dried fruits, and raw sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds and other nuts and mix my own. Trail mixes tend to also be calorically dense, so I'm careful with these as well, but I've found trail mixes to be a great substitute when I really crave something crunchy and sweet like a cookie.

So I say, if you're like me, don't deny your inner snack lover. Just make sure your snacks are real.