Are you feeling hungry between breakfast and lunch or hitting a hunger wall in the afternoon?
Listening to your body’s hunger cues is essential. Eating nutritious snacks throughout the day can be an important way to ensure that you are eating enough to fuel your body and avoid late-night binges. Plus – snacks can be a great way to add nutrients and help you feel energized!
Here are some tips to build nutritious snacks to keep your body fueled, happy, and healthy.
- Think about what you can add to your snack, not take away.
Adding nutrients and foods to your diet is much easier than cutting out “unhealthy foods”. Instead of throwing out your favourite chips, think about adding nutrients to your snack. For example, try adding some fruit or yogurt with your favourite Doritos.
- Add some protein and fat to your snack.
Adding protein or fat to your snack will help you feel full longer because it delays digestion, increasing satiety. Dairy products are a great source of protein and fat. Yogurt and cheese are excellent additions to a snack because they’re packed with vitamins, minerals, fats, and protein. Some plant-based options include nuts, oven-roasted chickpeas, and chia seeds.
- More fruit!
Add more fruits to your snack! Fruits contain carbohydrates, which increase your blood sugar and make you feel more energetic. They are also high in fibre, which will help you feel full for longer and is great for improving your gut health. Fruits are also packed with so many vitamins and minerals!
Here are some examples of nutritious and filling snacks:
Greek Yogurt & Berries Popcorn & Nuts
Veggies & Hummus Fruit & Cheese
Mindful snacking is about respecting your hunger cues, fueling your body with nutritious food, and making intentional food choices. If you want more nutritious and delicious snack recipes, check out Loyobo’s recipe guide! There are tons of fun recipes to try out – all with a Mindful Eating approach which means NO diet language, no calories, and NO shame.