Snack time!

Everyday around 4 or 5PM, I feel the urge to nimble on something. I'm not very hungry, but I still feel like eating. It has become such an anchored habit, that trying to avoid it is almost an impossible mission.

Almost everybody likes to snack. It's a break in the middle of the day, a moment to relax and forget about work or duties. The problem with snacks is that they are very badly planned for. It's going be a chocolate bar, a bag of chips, salty crackers, or sometimes even dessert.

Sometimes, the harmless snack turns into an eating binge. For example, if you're tense, have a lot to do, or simply enjoy snacking, you’ll end up eating a multitude of items in between lunch and dinner. By dinner time, you are already stuffed, and yet, you eat more, because you haven't had a decent meal.

The main problem with snacking is that it's a "fake" meal. It's not around a time where people actually sit at a table for a meal. So whether you’re hungry or not, you will usually eat something that's swallowed quickly, doesn't need much preparation, and that can be eaten from a box.

Now let’s reverse all these habits:

Since you already know you will snack, be ready for it! Get rid of the chocolate bars, chips, and other processed food items you keep around, and go for a light snack. Instead, keep a Tupperware of washed fruits around. All houses and most offices have a fridge, so it will be easy to keep them fresh for long. You can stock up on fruits on Monday, and it will last all week long. You can also get some spreadable light processed cheese, whole wheat toast, rice cakes, or fat free crackers. Snacking on two toasts with light cheese, or on one or two pieces of fruits is ideal. You will be getting from fibers and proteins from the first option to keep you full until dinner time, and fibers and water from option two from fruits, which will help you last a bit longer as well, and not to forget the vitamins provided.

Now, you don't think that these items are your thing. You get really hungry in the afternoon, and have no time to get off your desk, to grab an apple or spread some cheese. In that case, go for nutritious bars. If regular cereal bars won't satisfy your hunger, try picking something that contains oat, peanut butter, or athletes’ protein bars. In fact, the fibers in the oat, and the proteins in the peanut butter and the athletes’ bars will fill you up. Always go for a bar that contains no more than 200 calories, and stick to one! Accompany it with a big glass of water, or sparkling water, to create a volume effect in your stomach. This snack will keep the very hungry ones full until dinner time.

If you’re the sweet tooth type of snacker, and all that matters to you is the rich chocolate taste, then pick a very flavorful item, and stick to it. Go for a low calorie hot chocolate drink, or two pieces of flavored dark chocolates(orange, mint, raspberry...) with decaf coffee. Some would prefer a wafer for its light texture and rich chocolate flavor, so the same rules apply here; Pick something low oncalories (nothing above 150 calories).

Now, if you're the kind that snacks just to fill some time, and end up eating bits and pieces all afternoon long, then replace the foods with very light items. Have some light Jell-O, herbal teas, or sugar free candy lying around to keep you busy. Also, aim at "quitting" snacking all in all, since it never ends with one item.

Now tell me? What type of snacker are you?