Expert Advice on Snacking the Healthy Way

Scaled down snacking means scaled up weight loss. You may think you are snacking wisely, when in fact you are making choices that will sabotage your diet, or make you gain weight.

“Snacking helps to manage hunger and helps us avoid overeating at meal times. Choosing healthy, nutritious snacks is an easy way to improve your diet and overall health,” says Amanda Clark dietition and author of the revised and updated Australian Healthy Snack Bible.

Those with a sweet tooth, don’t depair! Snacking does allow for your favourite treats and you do get to indulge every now and then as snack choices have been split into everyday and occasional choices. The distinction between everyday and occasional snacks factors is the glycemic index (GI) of each food, choose those with high nutritional content on a daily basis for a healthier you!

There are always delicious options for snacking that won’t leave you having to loosen your belt! Diet jelly, plain popcorn, fresh or canned fruit, almonds, tuna and whole-grain crackers are recommended widely by nutritionists for healthy snacking. Healthy snacking will also improve your weight-loss as snacking every two hours helps your body stay in a higher- metabolism digesting mode.

Amanda also insists the importance of portion control when snacking or eating in general.

“It’s been proven that the more food in sight, the more we eat, and who can resist a batch of fresh cookies? One of the recipes I've developed is for a single Florentine. You use a tiny mixing bowl and spoon and in no time you have one fresh baked Florentine to enjoy. You can scale the recipe up easily to make 3 or 4 or any number that is appropriate for the occasion. "

RESCU also recommends the Portion Perfection Book, which incorporates a full pictorial dietary plan, encompassing all foods you may eat or drink for meals and snacks.

Advocates of portion control and scaled down snacking to keep their weight in check include many A list celebs, from Heidi Klum, Jennifer Lopez and Gwyneth Paltrow to Hayden Panattiere, Victoria Beckman, Jordin Sparks, Terri Hatcher, Nicky Hilton and Tyra Banks. They all rely on watching their portions to maintain their slender, fit, toned and healthy bodies.

Portion Perfection Book- $34.95

Portion Perfection Pack:
Portion Perfection Book, Snack Bible, Portion Perfection Plate - $59.95

Available from all bookstores or: www.greatideas.net.au
P: 07 5536 6400

The Australian Healthy Snack Bible is also available as a FREE download from www.greatideas.net.au