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 Do not eat in between meals if you want to keep off the fat, was the golden rule of dieting at one point of time. Nowadays however, that opinion is fast changing. Both doctors and dieticians are of the opinion that intelligent snacking is an excellent way of meeting the body’s nutritional needs.
According to the latest findings, healthy snacking every three to four hours is probably the best way of controlling an urge to over-eat at meal times. It also helps to maintain the blood sugar levels. Besides , the hectic lifestyle that most of us follow today, suggests that it is a better idea to snack sensibly (grab something you can munch on while continuing to work), than starve for long hours before you can sit down to a meal. This will help to keep up your energy level. A combination of healthy snacks and exercise also helps to increase your basic metabolic rate, thus stimulating the body to burn more fat.
Some basic principles that will help you snack right are-
1. Have your snack before you are ravenously hungry.
2. Snacks are not meals. So, keep them light.
3. Snack on low calorie foods. Beware of food labels that say 'low fat'. Low fat does not necessarily mean low calorie, and you need to keep a check on your calorie consumption.
4. Avoid processed food. These are easily digestible. Hence, they cause artificial cravings. This often results in consuming more than your body requirements.
5. Do not have a snack close to mealtime.
6. Choose a snack that is high in fibre and low in fat. In case you are having a non- vegetarian snack, try eating lean meat.
7. Keep healthy snacks at arms reach. This will prevent you from going in for a less healthy alternative.
Remember, healthy snacking does not mean snacking on seemingly boring salads and other tasteless stuff. The key is to make wise choices.
Sangita Kanjilal
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