Become a smart snacker

Most weight gain comes from indiscriminate snacking in high fat, high-salt treats such as chocolate, biscuits, cakes and chips. There is nothing wrong with snacking if you can make it healthy and nutritious. The right snack can help you manage weight and boost your mood, workouts and mental capacity. Follow these snacking tips from breakfast cereal maker Kellogg’s to stay healthy.

Plan ahead. Stock up on fruit, oatcakes, cereal bars, yoghurts, nuts and seeds. Pack a couple of snacks before you leave the house. Any time you feel hungry or your energy levels going down, take a small snack.

Count the drinks. Lattes, smoothies, juices, milky teas and coffees contain calories too, so factor them into your snack quota. Do not exceed your snack quota.

Portion control. Stick to the serving size printed on the packet and make your snack about 10 percent of your daily calories intake.

Vary snacks. Maximise nutrients by getting a variety of snacks. Use fat free cream cheese as a dip with celery, carrot and tomatoes and buy a range of crisp bread or dried fruits.

Published on January 2013