Healthy Snacking

Blue_Monkey

Right, I need to lose about a stone.

I'm loving my new gym and getting stuck into body pump, swimming and yoga. I'm walking to work more and think I have a well-balanced diet in terms of breakfast, lunch and dinner. The thing letting me down is snacking - mainly on chocolate or jelly sweets

So I'm hoping you kind chaps and chapesses can help me find some inspiration for some healthy, low-fat, low-calorie, snacks that will keep my mind off bad stuff and fill me up.

During the week I'm in the office in the city, so need something quick and easy that I can take with me. At weekends, I'm a bit more distracted so not such an issue!

Looking forward to hearing your tips and suggestions please! Thanks!

Bronnie

They're not particularly healthy or nutritious, but if I feel I'm going to fall off the wagon when I'm at work and need quick convenience, a cup of diet cuppa soup or the Cadbury's diet hot chocolate drink really helps takes the edge of my cravings.

I don't suggest these as a meal substitute, I think they're nutritionally poor and there are far better things to eat, but sometimes they do the job.


Edit to add . Sorry, I really should read the title properly.....I see now you specifically asked for healthy snacks

HannahIOW

http://www.graze.com

jenniewb

I'd agree with the above, meal replacement drinks are not healthy in my experience, have lots of salt, sweeteners or artificial vitamins. Your body takes on vitamins from real food far better!

I am at the gym quite a bit and rush from place to place alot. I am lucky to be in London where Tesco Metro/Express seems to exist on every street! I have certain things I look for when I get to a store (Sainsburys sell similar but the queues seem to be slightly longer) However remember to bring your own bags as Tesco seem to always have run out of them!

Fruit Salads are great. There is a variety of selection in most stores. They are not as cheap as an apple (£1.20 to 45p) but they are fresh (apples in these stores are not generally fresh tasting) and they come complete with fork to eat them with. If you knwo your going to get the bus or have at least 5 minutes to sit and eat these are a nice idea.

After the gym, your body needs a little protein and a little carbohydrates. There are many many options available.

Fruit salad would be good as your carbohydrate but for protein you'd need to think about what types of food you eat. I'd say prepack some cooked chicken, mini baby bel-light cheeses or make up an egg or tuna salad (fresh leaves, cherry tomatos, chopped cucumber, sliced peppers etc with some balsamic vinegar).

Failing that, pack with you half a sandwich or bagal but beware not to have too large a size or it can knock out the efforts of your workout!

Another option is a tall latte with skimmed or soya milk. I would go for decaff as caffiene can have adverse effects on your bones or a tea made with a lot of milk. This would be good for both carbohydrate and protein.

Protein bars as a last resort but really they are not doing your body any real favors- you'd be far better off with half a sandwich. I lived off protein bars (bar dinner) for about 6 months at the end of last year, deciding they would be perfect as they had their calories already worked out, meant I was having enough protein and were easy to carry. I have never felt so unwell! After 6 months (when I decided to go back to real food) I had been experiencing head colds every other week, had no less then 4 skin conditions (diagnosed by my doctor) and felt low in mood. I was also finding I got hungry but for junk food rather then what I normally eat; fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and etc. I would not recommend a diet of protein bars to anyone as a result. Even cereal bars I wouldn't recommend. OK for carbs but generally finding sources of carbohydrate is not a problem for any of us being that its in most of the foods we eat.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

HannahIOW wrote: »

http://www.graze.com

I second this link. You get the first box free, then second box half price & I think it's £3.69 for each future box.

You'll see what I mean if you check out the website.

VfM4meplse

jenniewb wrote: »

Another option is a tall latte with skimmed or soya milk

Don't be fooled into thinking soya is a low-cal option - example. Stick with skimmed.

I cut out dairy some weeks ago and was shocked to see the calorie count of a soya milk hot chocolate! So not worth it...:D

VfM4meplse

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

I second this link. You get the first box free, then second box half price & I think it's £3.69 for each future box.

You'll see what I mean if you check out the website.

Check your cc statement carefully - I was overcharged. Other than that I would recommend Graze (not that I have favourited anything vaguely healthy).

se999

I saw a program where they said protein makes you stay full longer, so one thing I use as a snack are the tiny tins of tuna in spring water. Like most things not a thing for every day, but a good alternative. They tend to be bought in 3 can multi-packs and could be kept in a drawer at work, all you need is a tin opener, a fork and you need to drain the excess liquid off, or drain off at home before work and put in a container to take. For me it works.

Another healthy bigger snack/very light lunch is a glass of skimmed milk and a banana, apparently the banana is rich in minerals we're normally lacking as well as the milk being high in calcium.

Looking at the browse site, surely you could work out your own browse boxes, it would work out far cheaper by raiding the health food shops/supermarkets etc for favorite healthy nibbles, and working out calories etc..

An obvious other snack is fresh fruit.

Eric_Pisch

i like the natures valley granola bars, there moderately high carb but most of the ingredients are rolled oats which is pretty low GI

there not expensive either

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/tesco-price-comparison/Cereal_Bars/Nature_Valley_Almond_6x42g.html

total 0% greek yoghurt is scrummy, zero fat / carb and has a reasonable amount of protein, sainsburys sell it as well as tesco's

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/tesco-price-comparison/Yogurts/Fage_Total_0_Fat_Free_Greek_Strained_Yogurt_150g.html

jenhug

make some sugar free jelly in small tubs. add some chopped fruit.

Bubby

Chopped carrot sticks or peppers. Fruit is also great (and will give your immune system a boost)