By Yanelis Colón, intern
Since childhood, we’ve learned that to have a healthy, balanced diet is important to eat five meals a day, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks. According to studies eating snacks can allow the metabolism to continue burning calories and get the energy needed to continue with daily tasks.
A good snack should at least have two of these four components: carbohydrates, protein, fruit or vegetable, and dairy. However, in adulthood, we forget the importance of including snacks among everyday habits. Let’s be honest, many of us work until almost dinnertime and forget to eat throughout the day.
When we think of a snack we imagine the most popular snacks. Yes, those that we see on vending machines with such easily accessible chips. Or if you are working from home eating snacks like ice cream, candy, or cereal. In other words, junk food. Let me tell you that those snacks are not healthy at all to eat between meals.
Here are some tips for staying healthy and stop the snack attacks on the fridge or vending machines.
Crackers with peanut butter – The combination of a complex carbohydrate and protein will provide energy. An alternative is that you can exchange crackers for whole-wheat bread, whole-wheat toast, or 1 small apple.
Fruits and nuts - A snack full of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. Some options are an apple, a banana, a pear, melon, or chopped mixed fruit. You can add 6 almonds to include fiber and protein.
Nuts – Prepare your own mixture of nuts such as almonds, pistachios, cashew, and seeds. They are a source of vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
Pita Chips with hummus - Whether you prepare the hummus at home or buy it, it is an excellent source of fiber that helps lower bad cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease. Also if you don’t have pita, you can dip whole-wheat bread or veggies.
A snack can be eaten about three hours after breakfast and then three hours after lunch. That’s it. Surely, you can do that, right?