Have you ever rushed out the door in the morning with nothing more than a mug of coffee in hand? Then when hunger hits, you discover you are at the mercy of someone or something else for something to eat. You may even decide to skip a snack which only slows down your metabolism and leaves you famished at your next meal with no control over what you eat.
One of the biggest pitfalls I see with women is not planning healthy snacks. Snacks can be the key in weight management by helping you:
- Meet your daily nutrient requirements
- Regulate your metabolism
- Keep you from overeating at your next meal
I believe conquering this ONE behavior—creating a snack schedule—can lead to a lifetime of weight management and feeling at peace with food. If the right snacks are not chosen, it can lead to feeling unsatisfied by eating empty, unnecessary calories.
Building My Snack Schedule
I like to build my snacks around nutrient dense foods (foods that have a lot of nutrients) but relatively few calories. At times, I may combine them with a smaller serving of something that is less nutritious. For example, I love a handful of nuts, string cheese and end with a Hershey’s Kiss.
Sound crazy? The nuts and cheese are nutrient dense, and the Kiss fills my desire for chocolate. I am not tempted to over indulge because I am satisfied and have built my sweet “treat” into my daily requirement.
Another favorite is 1 tablespoon of peanut butter with a banana or apple.
Daily Motivation
My prayer each day is that I view what I eat and how I exercise the same way I do other areas in my life. It is a way to honor God.
The Bible says in I Corinthians 10:31: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Of course, I am not perfect. There are plenty of times I eat things that were not the best choice; but I take it as an opportunity to give myself a little grace and learn how to do it differently the next time. Have you ever thought about how you eat as a way to bring honor to God? It may give you a new motivation for eating healthy that may include planning a snack schedule.
About Crystal Breaux
This is an area that I struggle with remembering to add those snacks into my day, so when it is time to eat lunch or dinner, I’m not sooo hungry that I overeat. I’ll have to keep this in mind. Thank You Crystal. I’m thinking maybe make these snacks ahead of time, so they are already there for me to just pick up and eat!! I love Apples/Peanut Butter, too!! 😉
Yes, we tend to think about meals, but have to plan those snacks too. Putting them together head of time is the way to go. another tip: never leave home without an apple in your purse. Easy snack to prepare and you never know when you will need it. 🙂
This is so timely for me! Thankyou. If you or any of the other ladies have other suggestions of healthy snacks id love to hear it. It would be so nice to have a backlog of go-to recipes. I know when im in a hurry or have a hectic day i dont eat right. The verse is so perfect and really motivated me to make a change. Again thanks
Joann, most of the recipes that we share on Mondays and Fridays are healthy recipes. You may check those out to see what’s there…. Some are not, but most are. I hope you are able to find some to work with! 🙂 God bless.
joann…on april 8th i shared a couple of recipes for protein bars and energy bites. perhaps these might be helpful to you. <3
thanks for the reminder, crystal…preparation is key! thanks, too, for the reminder that we CAN bring glory to our Father as we endeavor to handle these temples in a way that acknowledges our Maker! <3
Yes a few minutes of preparation can make a big difference
Thanks. Awesome