Written By: Coach Mairead
One of the biggest concerns I get from nutrition clients is around snacks – somewhere along the line, people were told that snacking is bad for them!
Here’s the deal: snacks can help a lot of us maintain our energy throughout the day, fuel our workouts, and keep us from getting hangry (angry from being hungry). They can also be a great way to bump up the nutrition in your day!
When should I snack? If you’re hungry and you’re still a long way from a meal, you should have a snack. We want to come to our meals comfortably hungry and ready to eat, not so ravenous we can’t even enjoy our food. If your next meal is more than an hour away and you’re feeling some hunger pangs, a snack could be a good idea. How big it would be depends on how far from that meal you are. If you often go more than 4-5 hours without eating, consider whether a small snack between meals would keep you going better.
What about around workouts? If you are heading into a workout in the next hour or two, and it’s been a few hours since your last meal, a small snack of easily digestible carbs can give you the energy to get through your workout and not be super hungry right after. Try a banana, a granola bar, or a piece of toast!
How do I pack in nutrition? Let’s look at what might be missing during your regular meals. Are you a bit low on fruits and veggies? Could we crank up the fibre? How about healthy fats?
Use your snacks as an opportunity to add nutrition. Try pairing fruits and vegetables, or a source of carbs, with protein and fat for a satisfying snack. Think apples with peanut butter, veggies with hummus, yogurt with fruit, or crackers with cheese.
More questions about your specific nutrition habits? Let’s chat! Email
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