Why Are You Snacking?

Snacks...we all love them.

And we all have different reasons for snacking... some of us snack because we skip meals, others reach for food when emotions take over and some of us snack, well, because we're bored!

Calorie counting is becoming a bit of a controversial subject as for some it can become addictive and damaging, but for others, it can be a useful way to identify how much energy is going into your body.

Just counting calories isn't enough to have a healthy diet - you could be eating 1200 calories a day but not meeting the recommended daily requirements for macro and micronutrients, potentially putting yourself at risk of deficiency. You can be extremely unhealthy but eating the "right" number of calories.

At the same time, eating just 100 extra calories a day on top of your individual requirements can lead to up to 10lbs weight gain in a year.

Binge snacking is a scarily easy way to load up on calories without realising it.

Before grabbing a snack, try to ask yourself WHY you are snacking...

• Are you hungry?

• Are you stressed/anxious/upset/frustrated/angry?

• Are you bored?

• Are you craving something?

• Are your energy levels dropping?

Healthy snacking maintains energy levels and mood inbetween meals.

Unhealthy snacking is usually a coping mechanism for something else - it's not really what we need but it will temporarily "fix" our feelings.

- If you are hungry, and snacking more than twice a day, try increasing your portions of fibre-rich vegetablesm complex carbs and protein at meal times, to keep you fuller for longer.

- If you are bored or emotionally eating, identify this as the trigger and find something to distract yourself!

It is much the same as trying to quit smoking - do something to take your mind off it, such as exercise, playing upbeat music and dancing, going for a walk, taking a bath or speaking to someone about how you are feeling.

- If you are simply craving something (we all get sugar cravings!), sometimes a piece of fruit and a distraction technique can be enough.

Other times, when you know nothing else will suffice, have the food you are craving, but eat it slowly and mindfully, trusting yourself to stop when you have had enough.

- If your energy levels are dropping, make sure you snack on healthy carbohydrates such as a banana /oats/fruit and nuts for slow release energy and to avoid a blood sugar spike.

Try to limit the number of processed snacks consumed as they are usually high in fat, salt, refined sugar and calorie content.

Aim for wholefoods that will nourish your body and maintain energy and blood glucose levels where you can.

Remember, it is totally okay to snack in the day and this shouldn't be avoided.

If you find that you are snacking more than 2 or 3 times a day then it might be useful to try and identify your reasons for snacking, to see if there is a logical way to cut down.

I hope this information helps you identify your reasons for snacking and that you understand we can all enjoy various snacks (yes including chocolate and ice cream!), as long as everything is practiced in moderation

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