What do I have as a “snack”?

This is a question that is often asked.  If you are eating to speed metabolism and burn calories all day long, then that means you are eating 5-6 times a day.  Eating that many times a day can be hard if you are not prepared and if you don’t know what to eat.

Here are a few things I hear people having as a snack:

• Protein shake
• Protein bar
• Fruit
• Granola bar
• Cheese
• Nuts
• Hummus and crackers
• Pretzels
• Whatever the kids are snacking on

The first two (protein shake and bar) are not bad.  But here is the rule:

• Food
• Protein Shake
• Protein Bar

The best snack for you to have is always food, but if that is not available (because of poor planning), then shake and bar are ok.  The rest of the foods on that list are not so bad but they are not optimal.  Some are good if paired with another food, but by themselves, not so good.

What I want you to understand TODAY, is that a “snack” is a “MEAL”.  It doesn’t have to be “snacky” type food.  How do you do that?  Does that mean you have to cook again for snacks?

No!  If you make extra dinner or lunch, you can have left over’s for another meal (snack).  Check out what I had for snack the other day.  I had left over Moroccan chicken from the night before and also my yummy squash and zucchini sauté that was left over as well.

You see, it doesn’t have to be a “snack”, it can be a small meal.  I always make protein muffins and my famous egg quiches or oatmeal pancakes ahead of time and I store them in the fridge all week for emergencies.  But most of the time my “snacks” are small meals.  This is why I always tell you to make EXTRA of whatever you are cooking.  But when on the run, if you have things prepared like protein muffins and oatmeal pancakes, it’s easier because you can put them in a little plastic bag and throw them in your purse.

Stay tuned tomorrow, as I will post a few of my “snacky type” recipes.

This week I will also talk about when to have your snacks or small meals.  I find that most people mess up their diets in the afternoon.  I get it!!!  The kids are home from school and you are giving them cookies, chips, ice cream, donuts, cereal, etc for snacks, and its so tempting to eat what they are eating.

But stay tuned as I will give you the SECRET to success with your afternoons and evenings.  This SECRET, will help you eat well all day, not just half the day.  Because I know that most of you mess it up after lunch.