Click on any online article about weight loss, or pick up a book on nutrition, and often you will see similar advice from various sources. One common “tip” is that those who want to lose weight should snack frequently, or simply eat five or six small meals each day. Other experts will disagree with this statement, saying that snacking will just add more calories to your daily intake. So, who is correct?
More than likely, both sides of this debate have some good points. The answer might boil down to what is right for your body and your style of diet.
Snacking is often good for people who go a long time between meals, and tend to get very hungry in the meantime. If you’re becoming irritable, tired, or get headaches, this is a sign that your blood sugar has dropped. A high-protein, high-fiber snack can help you feel full while boosting your energy level and mood.
Snacking can also prevent you from becoming so hungry that you’re ravenous at mealtime, and consume too many calories. Some people simply do better by eating a few hundred calories every few hours, rather than waiting until designated “meal times” and then fighting the temptation to overeat.
Snacking can also be appriate after an extra-tough workout, to help your body refuel. Those who exercise for thirty minutes probably don’t need a snack afterward, but a three-hour hike will leave most people needing a boost.
On the other hand, snacking might not be right for everyone. Those fluctuations in blood sugar aren’t good for anyone, and it might be better to work on a more balanced diet. Ideally, if your meals are balanced between the right mix of protein, fat, and fiber, you shouldn’t be suffering blood sugar crashes.
Snacking frequently can also have the unintended effect of adding too many calories to your daily diet. Unless you’re very careful, it’s easy to overeat.
So, to snack or not to snack? Which tactic is right for you? We recommend that you visit us first, so we can help you put together an eating plan to accomplish your weight loss goals. Together we will decide upon an nutritional regimen and help you address your particular challenges.