[ScrappingForever]

Research actually shows that snacking in between meals, or even eating 4-5 smaller meals throughout the day, is better for you than the traditional two or three larger meal routine. That is, of course, if you are eating nutritious snacks instead of the all-too-popular vending machine potato chips and soda, which many of us are drawn to.

So really, it’s a matter of making good snack choices when it’s time for a food break. Power foods are always a good bet, because they usually combine high nutrients and lower calories. These could be anything from grains to dairy to fruits and vegetables.

Healthy snack choices start at the grocery store. That’s where the decision is made to eat healthy snacks – not at the office or on the couch, but at the grocery.

You still want to watch how much of these healthy snacks you eat. This is a snack, remember, not a meal. So buy, cut up or make single servings of any snack food you can. Here are some healthy snack ideas to consider next time you head to the grocery.

Healthy Snack Ideas

# Yogurt
# Fruit cup
# Apple
# Banana
# Pear
# Peach
# Grapes
# Plum
# Orange
# Berries
# Watermelon
# Raisins
# Carrots
# Celery
# Broccoli
# Mixed nuts
# Tomato
# Chicken noodle soup
# Cauliflower
# Green or red peppers
# Peanut butter crackers
# Nuts
# Whole wheat cereal with skim milk
# Trail mix
# Oatmeal
# Whole wheat bagel or toast
# Pure bran muffins
# Fruit smoothie
# Spinach
# Sweet potato
# Broth-based vegetable soup
# Skim and low-fat milk
# Bean soup
* Celery sticks with peanut butter and several raisins on top
* Rice cakes with peanut butter (good for getting a protein punch)
* Low-fat cheese cubes
* Hardboiled eggs
* Deviled egg (wrapped in plastic wrap)
* Fruit yogurt cup (add in some fresh fruits or nuts for a boost
* Trail mix
* Nuts or nut mix (stick to just a handful)
* Vegetable sticks with a little packet of dip (lowfat salad dressing packets found in salad bars work as easy-to-pack dip)
* Broccoli or cauliflower bites
* Half of a turkey or tuna sandwich on whole-wheat bread
* Cucumber slices (lightly salted or with nonfat Italian dressing)
* Yogurt and granola
* Leftover chicken or turkey slices (great to eat cold)
* Healthy fiber-rich or grain cereal (great to eat dry from a baggie)
* Pickles (wrapped in foil or plastic wrap)
* Box of raisins or other dried fruit
* Half a large whole wheat bagel with light cream cheese
* Apples, bananas, strawberries (any fruit works, these are naturally portable)
* Mixed berries (these freeze well in plastic bags)
* Whole-wheat crackers and low-fat string cheese
* Grapes in a baggie
* Fruit smoothie in a thermos
* Tuna and cottage cheese in mini-containers

[Shelbi]

My best friend joined spark people about 6 or 8 months ago.
She has been bugging me to join it forever.
She has lost over 50 pounds!!!!
She looks great and I keep thinking I really should join.

TFS