Vegetable and Fruit Snacks: Adding Veggies to the Diet for Weight Loss
Dieting can actually sabotage weight loss. Most of us figure that the less food we eat the more fat we will lose, but skipping meals can trigger cravings.
Skipping meals creates a sluggish metabolism. Skipping meals also triggers cravings by increasing sensitivity to sweet and salty flavors. When your hunger gets out of control and you reach for those chips and pastries, these foods also spike blood sugar levels which in turn cause more cravings. It becomes a vicious cycle. You can’t put them down and before you know it, you’re in a full blown junk food binge.
The key is eating more frequently and increasing nutritious snacks. By exercising just a little self control and keeping those blood sugar levels stable, you can break the vicious cycle.
Keep handy plenty of sweet finger foods such as apples, bananas, grapes or dried fruit mixes. Chop cantaloupe or melon into bite size pieces and seal them in baggies for snacking later. When you’re in the mood for salty snacks, think sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, mixed nuts, popcorn, or open a jar of salsa and replace chips with radishes, cucumbers, carrots or celery. These foods also satisfy that desire for something crunchy.
Other healthy snack ideas include whole grain cereal or yogurt with added berries and wheat germ, a baked potato with shredded veggie topping, or a warm tortilla filled with refried beans and salsa.
When you feel the need for a comfort food, smoothies can be a good choice. Their fresh, creamy flavor is filling as well as nutritious. Vanilla soymilks or one of the many flavors of yogurts make a tasty base. You can have fun mixing and matching frozen fruits and berries. Add a little fruit juice and even a tablespoon of wheat germ, flaxseeds or oatmeal and you have a comfort food packed with powerful nutrition to boost your energy and mood until the next meal.
Next time you’re tempted to skip a meal, try munching on a fruit or veggie snack. You might just find that the low calorie nutrition will ward off those cravings and help you to lose weight without that tired, sluggish feeling.
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