At some point during the day — and often, multiple points — most people crave a snack. It’s easy to grab a snack that’s gratifying but high in fat, calories, cholesterol or sodium — and low on nutritional value.

The desire for healthy snacks (or at least less unhealthy snacks) is not a new one. What is new, however, is the emerging mindset that packing more for the punch, or doing more with less, can allow people to have their snacks and eat them, too. With a few lifestyle adjustments, the 3 p.m. snack — or the mid-morning or late night snack, for that matter — can continue.

Get Dense

To gain more from your snacking experience, go for nutrient-dense snacks that are enhanced with a greater amount of better-for-you ingredients. If you have an extra apple or some celery stalks on hand, take advantage of built-in nutrients and pull them out of the refrigerator.

If you are in the mood for a bag of munchies to satisfy your cravings, remember that today’s bagged snacks come in a wide range of better-for-you varieties. Snyder’s of Hanover, for instance, offers products like multigrain pretzels, chips, and puffs, and recently developed a dedicated EatSmart line of better-for-you snacks that fall into the nutrient-dense category.

Indeed, beyond traditional salty snacks made with whole grains, many bagged snacks today are made with non-traditional snack food ingredients. You can actually increase your intake of vegetables with products like vegetable-based crisps. EatSmart Veggie Crisps and Soy Crisps, for example, are made from real potatoes, tomatoes, spinach and soy.

Make Bold Choices

Nutritionists and foodies alike can attest to the fact that eating more flavorful food lends a certain satisfaction to the eating experience. Those who eat boldly flavored snacks may be less likely to over-consume and can take their time to enjoy how the food tastes.

Recognizing that bold flavors enhance the eating experience, manufacturers are responding with more intense and gourmet flavor profiles for snacks, such as pesto, parmesan, chipotle peppers and fire-roasted tomatoes, among many others.

A quick glance at a supermarket shelf in the snacking section supports the notion that consumers are seeking more unique flavors for snacks. Even the most popular chips come in a broader range of flavors beyond traditional cheese, ranch or sour cream and onion, while crackers are also topped with everything from cracked black pepper to bits of rosemary. Snyder’s EatSmart All Natural CheddAirs and Veggie Crisps include a variety of bold flavors you’re sure to enjoy.

Go Natural

For those looking to maximize their snacking experience, all-natural snacks offer an added benefit of “clean” labels, namely, with fewer preservatives and artificial ingredients. Again, supermarkets and restaurants are offering more natural and organic products, in response to growing customer demand.

Looking for “all natural” or “organic” wording on packaged snacks and taking a few seconds to read the label is an assurance that what goes into snacks doesn’t have to be unpronounceable.

Realize that Size Matters

Mindless eating, particularly snacking with little thought of controlling intake, is where a lot of people get into trouble. It may not seem like it when we’re eating while working, texting or watching TV, but it’s very quick and easy to overdo it.

To make it easier on consumers, snack food providers continue to introduce portion-controlled packaging, through 100-calorie packs and snack size products. Those items, ranging from chips to pretzels to snack cakes, are specifically designed to help people keep track of their snacking and stick to a pre-planned intake.

Pretty soon there won’t be an excuse not to snack, given all of the available options. Better-for-you snacking fits into just about any lifestyle – and, in turn, can help ensure a better fit into that swimsuit.

For more information on Snyder’s of Hanover full line of “Better-for-you” snacks, call (800) 233-7125 or visit the company Web site, www.snydersofhanover.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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Before you resort to grabbing the usual empty calorie options like chips, cookies and candy, why not take a more proactive approach? By following a few easy guidelines and taking advantage of the office fridge, you can create a personalized “vending machine” full of sensible treats.

“A smart snacking strategy helps you curb cravings, stabilize your blood sugar and keep your energy levels up,” says Devin Alexander, chef and bestselling author of “The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook.”

Alexander feels that snacks should not be viewed as just a treat between meals, but as an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. By taking a more serious view of these mini-meals, you can learn to plan and prepare for your cravings with guilt-free options. In addition, when you provide your body with smart snack fuel, you ensure that you won’t be starving when it comes time to eat your main meals and you will make better eating choices overall.

Alexander offers four quick tips to help start your new “vending machine” off on the right track:

Bring Snacks from Home
Rather than rely on the baked goods someone left in the office kitchen or the communal candy jar to provide a balanced snack solution, bring snacks from home as the first step in taking control of your snacking habits. In addition, stocking up at the grocery store is a more budget-friendly option than spending a few dollars each day at the vending machine. Keep your waistline and your wallet in check with this simple step.

Flavor, Flavor, Flavor
Making smart choices doesn’t mean you have to rely on bland celery sticks or rice cakes to control your snack cravings. Look for wholesome options that leave you satisfied and also taste great. Sargento natural cheese snacks are only 50 to 80 calories per individually wrapped serving and research has found that people find cheese just as delicious as chips or cookies.

“Keeping a stash of fruit, nuts and cheese sticks in the crisper assures that you have a quick, healthy and tasty snack on hand that will provide both protein and fiber to keep you feeling full longer,” says Alexander.

Co-Op with Coworkers
Don’t try to go it alone; start a snacking support system! Coordinate with colleagues to set up a schedule that rotates responsibility for bringing different smart snack options each week. To start things off on the right track, provide suggestions for healthy snacks, like low-fat brownies, trail mix, a fruit and cheese plate or nuts. As the schedule continues, you can all add new favorites to the list of “approved” snacks. The group accountability will motivate you to stay on track and avoid poor choices. Be sure to enjoy your “off” weeks when your office mates are bringing the healthy munchies.

Keep it Convenient
Knowing that your afternoons will still be as busy and hectic as ever, make sure to choose snacks that won’t take a lot of time to prepare before eating. “Make it easy on yourself,” says Alexander. “Snacking shouldn’t add any stress to an already full work day.” Conveniently pre-portioned and individually wrapped Sargento natural cheese snacks, like String Cheese or Reduced Fat Sharp Cheddar sticks, are a great way to eat on the go.

By using the above tricks to combat poor snacking choices, you should find your afternoons more productive and yourself more energized. You’ll be up for that promotion in no time.

Find more snacking tips from Devin Alexander at www.sargento.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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