Healthy snacking becomes very important between meals as it helps keep your hunger at bay and also maintains your performance and mental acuity.
Foods that promote satiety without considerably increasing overall energy intake are important for promoting more healthful eating behaviors. Eating snacks between meals can potentially promote satiety and suppress overconsumption at the next meal.
Snacks should be consumed at every 2-3 hour intervals after your main meal. When it comes to choosing healthy snacks, there are many wholesome options available that are packed with nutritive benefits-
- Peanuts– Peanuts and Almonds are loaded with proteins, healthy fats, and several vitamins and minerals that make them super healthy. Peanuts and almonds in snacks are used to satisfy hunger and personal food cravings.
- Dhokla– Dholka is higher in protein content. A single serving of Dholka contains 283 calories, 11 grams of proteins. This delicious snack is packed with nutrients. It’s high in protein while being gluten-free. This helps regulate blood pressure and hunger pangs.
- Yoghurt– Dairy foods including yoghurt are extremely nutrient-rich with many essential nutrients including high-quality protein, Calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, Potassium, Magnesium.
- Makhana (Fox Nuts)– Makhanas is an excellent choice for an evening snack as they are rich sources of protein containing very little fat content. Roasting them dry in a pan (with/without a bit of ghee) and sprinkling some salt and paprika make for a mouth-watering nutritious snack that you must try and include in your diet.
- Popcorn– A high fiber snack that requires very little preparation time is the snack to go to when hungry. 100g of popcorn provides you with 6g of carbohydrates, 11g of protein, and 0g of fats.
- Sprouts– A very good source of iron, protein, fiber, and potassium that not only provide satiety for long but keep you on track with your overall health and fitness goals.
- Vegetable/Fruit salad– Fruits and vegetables are good sources of fiber and micronutrients that balance your diet, thereby keeping you satiated and maintaining your weight loss goals in the long run.
If you are struggling with late-night hunger pangs, make sure that the snack is low in caloric content. You can opt for a post-dinner snack like almonds, cashews provided you have eaten your dinner well ahead of your bed-time. Also, make sure that the snack is low in caloric content.
Snack foods have the potential to contribute to satiety, with higher-protein but one should always keep in mind that snacks should never replace regular meals, and therefore, it is important to regulate and monitor the kind of snacks you eat.
