Today's post discusses grocery shopping when you're hungry - always a big mistake - and some healthy snack ideas (for your desk) to add to your shopping list. My hubby does the majority of our grocery shopping and I can always tell just how hungry he is by the size of the bill!
Do you have any suggestions or tips for healthy snacking, at work or at home? If so, I hope you'll share them!
Going food shopping on an empty stomach is a sure recipe for diet disaster. That gallon of ice cream and those bags of chips look even better when you're hungry. Try to plan your trip to the store for when you're full, and make a detailed list. You're less likely to make unhealthy impulse purchases when you're full and have a plan!
Here are those healthy snack ideas:
Dried Fruits: Raisins, apricots, figs, and dates don't have the water content of fresh fruit, so they aren't quite as filling, says Maria Walls, senior nutritionist for Weight Watchers International. Still, they last for ages and contain much of the nutrition of their undried brethren. A small box of raisins has 130 calories and no fat.
Tuna Salad in a Pouch: The StarKist Lunch To-Go, for example, has 3 ounces of tuna, mayo, relish, and six crackers, plus a spoon to mix it all up. It doesn't need to be refrigerated and weighs in at a relatively small 210 calories.
Nuts: "They're great snack items because they're so filling," says Katherine Tallmadge, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. Walnuts are desirable because they're high in omega-3 fatty acids that protect against heart disease. Limit yourself to 1 ounce -- about 160 calories.
Fruit Cookies: Two cookies have about 110 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. The low-fat varieties have 90 calories and almost no fat.
Animal Cookies: Sixteen of the critters contain only 120 calories. And even vegetarians can enjoy biting the head off a lion or the hump off a camel.
Single-Serving Soups: Look for an 8-ounce serving that has no more than 480 milligrams of sodium, says Connie Diekman, director of nutrition at Washington University in St. Louis. You can find a nutritious cup of soup with 100 to 200 calories.
Keep those snacks healthy!
Laurie
8 comments:
I'm bad about buying things at the store when I'm hungry, so I try not to go then.
I try to snack on fresh veggies and fruit and occasionally nuts. I do pretty well at this during the day. But at night time I usually want something a little sweeter, like chocolate and sugar. I can't leave out the chocolate!
Now see Katie, I'm the complete opposite - my most serious munching is done in the mornings at work. I'll typically have my dinner and then I don't eat anything else in the evening. It's those morning munchies that do me in.
I've learned not to grocery shop when I'm hungry too - my cart has a lot more junk in it when I do.
I barely do any grocery shopping at all. While it may seem odd to some people, I still live with parents since I'm a grad student and get along very well with them. So, my mom does most of the shopping. And, since she's in Weight Watchers, almost all of the snack foods at our house are Weight Watchers snacks.
But, aside from that, she also makes sure to stock up on the Fiber One granola bars, which are super yummy and contain 9 grams of fiber.
A favorite is from a suggestion that I read in a magazine somewhere. It is hard boiled eggs with the yolk removed and filled with hummus. Frankly, I love hummus so I always have a supply to go with bread or veggie sticks. However, when I need a protein kick....yummy.
I have been fairly strict about trimming the fat out of my grocery bill. Consider the price of chips per pound. Now consider that chicken on sale per pound could be anything from 70cents to $1.70. Nutrient density per the cost is an interesting way to shop that keeps you and your wallet healthy.
I do well during the day. It is the nights that kill me. I always want something and don't know what it is so I eat everything and nothing does the job.
Hi Laurie-
My suggestion was going to be fruit and nuts- and also snacking throughout the day, on healthy foods, exercising portion control. Most people say it's best to eat a lot of little meals as opposed to a few large ones.
About the tuna salad that doesn't need refrigeration... I'm a bit skeptical - but hey. I'm sure they figured it out somehow.
I've had the tuna packages - it's pretty good and filling.
I try to munch on carrot sticks during the day if I'm not satisfied with my meal, and at night I eat oranges.
This week I've been craving chips and salsa! I broke down the other night and indulged and boy was it good. So good that I didn't feel guilty the next day, but I did get rid of the chips so it wouldn't happen again.
I've had the tuna packages - it's pretty good and filling.
I try to munch on carrot sticks during the day if I'm not satisfied with my meal, and at night I eat oranges.
This week I've been craving chips and salsa! I broke down the other night and indulged and boy was it good. So good that I didn't feel guilty the next day, but I did get rid of the chips so it wouldn't happen again.
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