Hi friends 🙂 Just now winding down from the day’s events- hope you had a happy Friday!
Since tomorrow is a teaching day, I try to plan out (and make) the snacks I’ll need the night before. I try to have lots of little snacks throughout the day to keep my energy up, without being too heavy and weighing me down. It’s hard to booty-shake with a very full belly.
I’ll make a huge one and sip on it throughout the day
Larabars
Veggies and fruit
Some fun combos: strawberries or apple dipped in nut butter (almond or cashew), seaweed snacks used to pinch up salad bites, hummus on toast with veggies
and whatever random treats we have in the locker room. Guests and coworkers like to surprise us with goodies 🙂
I was offered the opportunity to do a video chat with Ellie Krieger, but since I was teaching all day that day, I had to miss it. I’ve been a huge fan of Ellie Krieger’s for quite a while -I used to watch her Food Network show every Saturday- and love that she focuses on clean, whole foods. Ellie Krieger is also a registered dietitian- her dishes are extremely flavorful and health-conscious at the same time.
The representative who organized the event was so kind to interview Ellie on my behalf. I was interested in hearing her responses to two of the suggested interview questions, and the third is my own:
1. What is the problem with oversnacking and how many Americans are at risk of doing it? 2. What are some creative ways to turn everyday (and traditionally unhealthy!) snacks into Super Snacks?
3. What do you do if you have a snack and are still hungry? Any key tips to making snacks more satisfying?
Here’s what she had to say:
(the interview and this giveaway are both sponsored by California Grapes)
My responses to the questions:
1. What is the problem with oversnacking and how many Americans are at risk of doing it?
I think that oversnacking is definitely a problem because it’s an answer to pretty much anything. Nothing to do? Have a snack. Tired? Have a snack. Your boyfriend is being a punk? Have a snack. And it goes on and on. While I’m obviously a huge snacker myself, I think it’s often done for the wrong reasons (like not actually being hungry, but rather because you’re bored, tired, emotional, etc) and choosing the wrong types of snacks. I think it’s a great idea to snack throughout the day to keep your metabolism functioning well, but choosing healthy snacks (with protein and an emphasis on fresh fruits/veggies) is important. 2. What are some creative ways to turn everyday (and traditionally unhealthy!) snacks into Super Snacks?
One of my favorite healthier version of a “traditional” snack is instead of having chips, enjoy some dehydrated or baked zucchini or kale chips. I’m also a huge fan of Pop Chips. I actually like them better than potato chips and the sweet potato flavor is ridiculous.
3. What do you do if you have a snack and are still hungry? Any key tips to making snacks more satisfying?
I think it’s a good idea to make sure you have a combo of carbs, fats and protein in each meal and snack to make it more satisfying. Whenever I have pure sugar or carbs, I’m hungry about 4 seconds later. One of my favorite combos right now is a piece of toast with marinara and goat cheese, topped with oregano and red chili flakes. Pizza toast!
So tell me friends, what’s your snack strategy? Do you have the same amount of snacks each day or go with the flow? What’s your most satisfying snack combo?
On the days I don’t teach, I’ll have two snacks and 3 meals. The days I teach, depending on what kind of day it is, I’ll end up having as many as 5 or 6 snacks in addition to my meals.
Congratulations to the winner! Tasha, who said:
I love Ellie Krieger! I remember when she first came on the food network, I was super excited that they finally featured a healthy chef, who doesn’t use processed foods the way the Hungry Girl does. My favorite snack is roasted chickpeas, with cumin and paprika. Great snack and wonderful source of protein.
Send me your info and I’ll get your books and roons on the way 🙂
(fitnessista at gmail dot com, subject: COOKBOOK AND ROONS WINNER!)
I do snacks around 10:30 am and 3 pm. That’s just when I happen to get hungry every day and it seems to work out. Always fruit, veggies, or a lara bar.
I love having different snacks throughout the day, but often find myself eating the same ones! I love the organic fruit twists, apples with peanut butter, and crackers with peanut butter 🙂
I go with the flow, completely and totally. Some days, I’ll be a snack monster, and some days, I’ll be a three-square-meal-a-day girl.
My favorite satisfying snack? Celery and almond butter…or almonds and chocolate chips (as my after-dinner snack/dessert). And my favorite stay-full strategy? Drink water!
I would DIE to win that cookbook, Gina! I’ve eyed it up at the bookstore at least a handful of times. It would be perfect in my house — we love comfort food, and I’m always trying to reinvent them so they’re healthier. Ellie to the rescue!
I tend to snack when my body tells me too – so whenever I’m hungry. Sometimes this means I’m grazing throughout the day though 🙁 I try to keep it healthy, with lots of fruit, veggies and hummus, and dark chocolate for a sweet treat.
Too bad you had to miss the interview!
I’m a meal and snacker! During the week when I work I typically eat three meals and 2-3 snacks. It changes each week though, depending on how much I’m training.
My favourite satisfying snack is a delicious fruit salad, or homemade granola with Greek yogurt and fresh berries. (I almost always crave sweet snacks.)
My snack strategy definitely differs depending on my workouts and plans for the day. If I know I’m going to a social gathering of some sort I will always eat a little something before I go – even if I’m not really hungry. Way better than being starving when I show up and being the girl who hangs out next to the food the whole time. 🙂
My go to’s are veggies & hummus, apple and nut butter, Lara bars or a handful of raw almonds + an ounce of cheese. Random pregnancy snack: a corn tortilla (the thick homestyle ones) warmed up with almond butter and avocado. Haha don’t ask – but it’s so good!
I tend to snack a few times each day but really try my best to pick lower sugar, less glycemic snacks such as asparagus, broccoli, a hard boiled egg or some almond butter. I hope I win! Thanks for the lovely giveaway!
Love Ellie’s show and hope to check out her books as well. Snacking depends on the day, but to fill me up, I usually opt for some kind of protein (usually nuts or nut butter or cheese) with a sweet and salty combination!
I go with the flow. I am not usually a snacker but since I’ve started exercising I realise that I need snacks. Tomorrow I will be making granola bars. I do smoothies now and often a small piece of bread with peanut butter.
My current favorite snack at the moment is a new to me recipe of cottage cheese (which I thought I could never love), mixed with salsa and some wholly guacamole….the salsa totally makes the snack
That sounds so delicious!! Thanks for sharing. I like to mix cottage cheese with a bit of jam…or cottage cheese and applesauce (something my mom always ate while I was growing up)…or cottage cheese mixed with Frank’s buffalo wing sauce, in which I like to dip celery. 🙂
I love snacking on larabars, apples, sprouted grain bread and hummus and so much more. Snacking is my favorite and I snack about twice daily, once in between lunch and dinner and once after dinner.
Snacking kind of varies for me depending on what my schedule is for the day since I’m still a student (and med school= usually busy student) but I always feel better when I do get a few snacks in between meal-times. Otherwise I’m a starvin’ marvin when I get around to lunch or dinner and I usually end up eating more when that happens.
My favorite snackies are protein smoothies, a cheese stick with fruit or veggies, larabars/kindbars, and plain greek yogurt w/berries and stevia. I also make “breakfast blobs” (can’t remember which blog I found this on) which is basically a microwave chocolate cake made with mashed banana, chocolate protein powder, egg whites, stevia, and baking powder— topped with melty nut butter. Yum! 🙂
I generally have a couple of snacks a day. My snacks are usually a larabar, smoothie, almonds, or some popchips and hummus. Lately I have been into making zucchini chips as well.
I mostly snack for meal throughout the day. I don’t seem to ever eat large meals. Smaller snack-y type things keep me more satisfied and keep me from over eating for sure!
Since my work schedule doesn’t really allow for easy snacking, (I’m an RN) I usually end up just eating one snack a day between 2 and 3 pm to get me to dinner without becoming a crazy woman and consuming ungodly amounts of junk. I usually go with fresh fruit and nut butter. And maybe a piece of chocolate sneaks it’s way in once in a while 😉
My snack routine changes all the time! Sometimes I don’t snack at all…and sometimes I snack 2-3 times a day. I love apples and peanut butter 🙂 I tried celery…but I seriously can’t get over the texture…no thank you!
The only big meal I eat is breakfast, With the rest of my meals being small or big snacks. I try to eat them around the same time every day so that I stay consistent. It works pretty well for me!
My snacking really depends on what kind of day it is.
At work I usually snack almost all day and dont really eat a real meal. My fave things to bring are a baggie of cut up veggies, baked eggs, greek yogurt, and some deli lunch meat. I just grab a quick bite of whatever sounds tasty many times throughout the day.
If I am at home that day I tend to have more like 3 meals and maybe a snack of some cut up fruit.
I do three main meals and two or three snacks a day. Lately I’ve been munching on larabars mid-morning, then after work I’ll grab some rice cakes or veggies with nut butter before working out. If I need a third snack later on, it generally involves something sweet- like fruit and nuts or trailmix.
I am always guilty of the 10:30 am craving – a few hours after breakfast, needing a break from work, the vending machine starts calling! I’ve learned to pack smaller stuff with my lunch so I can decide what sounds best from healthy options. Well, most of the time 🙂
Funny thing, is I snack at work, but when I’m home the urge doesn’t strike. Sometimes the snack is roasted brussells sprouts & yams or homemade trail mix based on something Trader Joe’s is offering, or cheesy kale chips ala Averie Would love Ellies book, her show is inspiring.
I’m a snacker for sure, but I don’t place limits on how often, I eat when I’m hungry. Our metabolism changes from day to day depending not just on how much we have exercised but all kinds of things. I go for fruit or vegetables first and if I’m still hungry then go for something more substantial. I also try to start with water because sometimes it takes the edge off my hunger. As long as it is healthy and wholesome go for it!
I am such a snacker. I do love a hardboiled egg or fresh fruit as an easy snack! Greek yogurt with frozen fruit is one of my favorites for the summer! 🙂
Oh boy, does that pizza toast sound bomb. I never would’ve thought to make it a “snack” because it seems filling. But that’s the point! That’d be especially great before my night classes- always too early for dinner before I go in, but they’re so long that I’m a ravenous beast by the end. I like taking carrots and peanut butter, but get a little self conscious of the crunching! Trader Joe’s flavored almonds are really good too, but a serving by itself (while very healthy!) never quite satisfies me. (now all im thinking is an udis bagel pizza for lunch tomorrow.)
I do not snack. I think because we never had desert or any, what I call, crap food in our house it carried over into adulthood. If you eat right, you do not need to snack. I still struggle today when told to eat every 3 hours. Not happening.
I usually have 2 snacks with three meals. However, I’ve been trying to go more of the intuitive eating route, and eating when and what my body needs. It’s a hard change, but a good one!
I’ve not heard of Ellie before but now I’m excited to look
For her show! I agree with her suggestion to have fats & proteins in snacks. That is key for me not going back for more or something else.
My snacking tends to depend on the day and how I’m feeling. I usually snack between 2 to 4 times a day and my favorite snack will always be peanut butter and apples…well, with the exception of chips and salsa, but that’s a rare snack/treat!
Being in the fitness industry as well and not having a ton of time to eat between clients, I rely on healthy snacks to get me through my day and also to prepare me for teaching classes. On the weekends I tend to go with the flow, although that sometimes gets me in trouble 🙂 On weekdays, I rely on things like making my own protein bars, mixing greek yogurt with berries, stevia, flax and a 1/3 cup of ezekiel cereal, turkey & zucchini muffins with almonds, green smoothies, apples with greek yogurt dip (cinnamon, stevia and cocoa powder mixed in), rice cakes with almond butter, and the list goes on an on! Moral of the story, snacks keep my blood sugar stable throughout the day in turn making me more pleasant to be around 🙂 I say a few snacks a day makes the crazies go away….(and by crazies, I mean my cranky side)!
I never win these things, but I’m commenting anyways because I would really LOVE to win these cookbooks!! I usually have the same amount of snacks everyday (about 2-3), but I like to mix them up between mini Clif bars, small pouches of nuts from Trader Joe’s, and of course lots of fruits and veggies. Variety and a mix of carbs and protein are key.
I do snacks around 10:30 am and 3 pm. That’s just when I happen to get hungry every day and it seems to work out. Always fruit, veggies, or a lara bar.
I love Ellie’s recipe for a dark chocolate tofu mousse! So good!
Lara Bars are a great snack. I usually snack around 10 and 3 too. Usually shoot for boiled eggs and fruit or fruit and granola!
I love having different snacks throughout the day, but often find myself eating the same ones! I love the organic fruit twists, apples with peanut butter, and crackers with peanut butter 🙂
My best strategy is to have pre-packed snacks set for the day – whenever I do not do that things go overboard!
As a teacher, I have a super rigid schedule and rely on protein based snacks to tide me over! Yum!
I go with the flow, completely and totally. Some days, I’ll be a snack monster, and some days, I’ll be a three-square-meal-a-day girl.
My favorite satisfying snack? Celery and almond butter…or almonds and chocolate chips (as my after-dinner snack/dessert). And my favorite stay-full strategy? Drink water!
I would DIE to win that cookbook, Gina! I’ve eyed it up at the bookstore at least a handful of times. It would be perfect in my house — we love comfort food, and I’m always trying to reinvent them so they’re healthier. Ellie to the rescue!
I ususally have two snacks a day, however if I am really truly hungry I add more. 🙂
*usually*
I tend to snack when my body tells me too – so whenever I’m hungry. Sometimes this means I’m grazing throughout the day though 🙁 I try to keep it healthy, with lots of fruit, veggies and hummus, and dark chocolate for a sweet treat.
Too bad you had to miss the interview!
I’m a meal and snacker! During the week when I work I typically eat three meals and 2-3 snacks. It changes each week though, depending on how much I’m training.
My favourite satisfying snack is a delicious fruit salad, or homemade granola with Greek yogurt and fresh berries. (I almost always crave sweet snacks.)
My snack strategy definitely differs depending on my workouts and plans for the day. If I know I’m going to a social gathering of some sort I will always eat a little something before I go – even if I’m not really hungry. Way better than being starving when I show up and being the girl who hangs out next to the food the whole time. 🙂
My go to’s are veggies & hummus, apple and nut butter, Lara bars or a handful of raw almonds + an ounce of cheese. Random pregnancy snack: a corn tortilla (the thick homestyle ones) warmed up with almond butter and avocado. Haha don’t ask – but it’s so good!
I tend to snack a few times each day but really try my best to pick lower sugar, less glycemic snacks such as asparagus, broccoli, a hard boiled egg or some almond butter. I hope I win! Thanks for the lovely giveaway!
My schedule is flipped *up all night* *sleep during the day* so I need my snacks around midnight and 330am. Usually a smoothie and banana 🙂
I try to snack a few times a day and usually go for veggies and hummus or fruit!
Love Ellie’s show and hope to check out her books as well. Snacking depends on the day, but to fill me up, I usually opt for some kind of protein (usually nuts or nut butter or cheese) with a sweet and salty combination!
I go with the flow. I am not usually a snacker but since I’ve started exercising I realise that I need snacks. Tomorrow I will be making granola bars. I do smoothies now and often a small piece of bread with peanut butter.
My current favorite snack at the moment is a new to me recipe of cottage cheese (which I thought I could never love), mixed with salsa and some wholly guacamole….the salsa totally makes the snack
That sounds so delicious!! Thanks for sharing. I like to mix cottage cheese with a bit of jam…or cottage cheese and applesauce (something my mom always ate while I was growing up)…or cottage cheese mixed with Frank’s buffalo wing sauce, in which I like to dip celery. 🙂
I love snacking on larabars, apples, sprouted grain bread and hummus and so much more. Snacking is my favorite and I snack about twice daily, once in between lunch and dinner and once after dinner.
Snacking kind of varies for me depending on what my schedule is for the day since I’m still a student (and med school= usually busy student) but I always feel better when I do get a few snacks in between meal-times. Otherwise I’m a starvin’ marvin when I get around to lunch or dinner and I usually end up eating more when that happens.
My favorite snackies are protein smoothies, a cheese stick with fruit or veggies, larabars/kindbars, and plain greek yogurt w/berries and stevia. I also make “breakfast blobs” (can’t remember which blog I found this on) which is basically a microwave chocolate cake made with mashed banana, chocolate protein powder, egg whites, stevia, and baking powder— topped with melty nut butter. Yum! 🙂
I’m more of a three square meals person, whenever I start snacking I get super snacky throughout the day!
I generally have a couple of snacks a day. My snacks are usually a larabar, smoothie, almonds, or some popchips and hummus. Lately I have been into making zucchini chips as well.
I mostly snack for meal throughout the day. I don’t seem to ever eat large meals. Smaller snack-y type things keep me more satisfied and keep me from over eating for sure!
Since my work schedule doesn’t really allow for easy snacking, (I’m an RN) I usually end up just eating one snack a day between 2 and 3 pm to get me to dinner without becoming a crazy woman and consuming ungodly amounts of junk. I usually go with fresh fruit and nut butter. And maybe a piece of chocolate sneaks it’s way in once in a while 😉
My snack routine changes all the time! Sometimes I don’t snack at all…and sometimes I snack 2-3 times a day. I love apples and peanut butter 🙂 I tried celery…but I seriously can’t get over the texture…no thank you!
The only big meal I eat is breakfast, With the rest of my meals being small or big snacks. I try to eat them around the same time every day so that I stay consistent. It works pretty well for me!
My snacking really depends on what kind of day it is.
At work I usually snack almost all day and dont really eat a real meal. My fave things to bring are a baggie of cut up veggies, baked eggs, greek yogurt, and some deli lunch meat. I just grab a quick bite of whatever sounds tasty many times throughout the day.
If I am at home that day I tend to have more like 3 meals and maybe a snack of some cut up fruit.
I do three main meals and two or three snacks a day. Lately I’ve been munching on larabars mid-morning, then after work I’ll grab some rice cakes or veggies with nut butter before working out. If I need a third snack later on, it generally involves something sweet- like fruit and nuts or trailmix.
I am always guilty of the 10:30 am craving – a few hours after breakfast, needing a break from work, the vending machine starts calling! I’ve learned to pack smaller stuff with my lunch so I can decide what sounds best from healthy options. Well, most of the time 🙂
I like to have around three snakcs a day. Usually is fruit or something quick and easy. Apples and peanut butter are yummy too!!
I LOVE snack foods! Dessert hummus with homemade cinnamon pita chips is my most current favourite snack:).
Xxx
I definitely snack whenever and eat whatever, which is very, veryyy dangerous!
Funny thing, is I snack at work, but when I’m home the urge doesn’t strike. Sometimes the snack is roasted brussells sprouts & yams or homemade trail mix based on something Trader Joe’s is offering, or cheesy kale chips ala Averie Would love Ellies book, her show is inspiring.
For a snack, I love pairing some apple slices with a handful of almonds. Perfect snack!
I love Ellie! Oh boy this video was great! 😀 Thanks so much for sharing! I don’t know why I’ve never checked her cookbooks out before! Doh!
I’m a snacker for sure, but I don’t place limits on how often, I eat when I’m hungry. Our metabolism changes from day to day depending not just on how much we have exercised but all kinds of things. I go for fruit or vegetables first and if I’m still hungry then go for something more substantial. I also try to start with water because sometimes it takes the edge off my hunger. As long as it is healthy and wholesome go for it!
I am such a snacker. I do love a hardboiled egg or fresh fruit as an easy snack! Greek yogurt with frozen fruit is one of my favorites for the summer! 🙂
I generally have two or three snacks a day and struggle to always make them healthy choices. Thanks for the giveaway!
Oh boy, does that pizza toast sound bomb. I never would’ve thought to make it a “snack” because it seems filling. But that’s the point! That’d be especially great before my night classes- always too early for dinner before I go in, but they’re so long that I’m a ravenous beast by the end. I like taking carrots and peanut butter, but get a little self conscious of the crunching! Trader Joe’s flavored almonds are really good too, but a serving by itself (while very healthy!) never quite satisfies me. (now all im thinking is an udis bagel pizza for lunch tomorrow.)
I try to eat 2 snacks and 3 meals a day. I love snacking on fruit, pop chips, granola, or nuts. I’m always looking for fun new ideas for snacks.
I am a total snacker. I’m loving popcorn right now. The olive oil reduced fat one from TJs. Yum!
I do not snack. I think because we never had desert or any, what I call, crap food in our house it carried over into adulthood. If you eat right, you do not need to snack. I still struggle today when told to eat every 3 hours. Not happening.
I usually have 2 snacks with three meals. However, I’ve been trying to go more of the intuitive eating route, and eating when and what my body needs. It’s a hard change, but a good one!
I’ve not heard of Ellie before but now I’m excited to look
For her show! I agree with her suggestion to have fats & proteins in snacks. That is key for me not going back for more or something else.
I’m currentlu doing the three meals + two snacks in between regimen. But on the days that I exercise more, I sneak in a few more snacks.
I generally go with the flow based on the day, activity levels, and what I have on hand. I love Ellie’s show – used to watch it all the time!
My snacking tends to depend on the day and how I’m feeling. I usually snack between 2 to 4 times a day and my favorite snack will always be peanut butter and apples…well, with the exception of chips and salsa, but that’s a rare snack/treat!
Ugh I haven’t figured out my snacking yet. I’ll pack all the healthy stuff, but then munch on the goodies at work – It’s so hard!
I use the internet for many recipes….but nothing is quite like a good cookbook, she is really great too! P.S. Your salad looks DEElish!
Being in the fitness industry as well and not having a ton of time to eat between clients, I rely on healthy snacks to get me through my day and also to prepare me for teaching classes. On the weekends I tend to go with the flow, although that sometimes gets me in trouble 🙂 On weekdays, I rely on things like making my own protein bars, mixing greek yogurt with berries, stevia, flax and a 1/3 cup of ezekiel cereal, turkey & zucchini muffins with almonds, green smoothies, apples with greek yogurt dip (cinnamon, stevia and cocoa powder mixed in), rice cakes with almond butter, and the list goes on an on! Moral of the story, snacks keep my blood sugar stable throughout the day in turn making me more pleasant to be around 🙂 I say a few snacks a day makes the crazies go away….(and by crazies, I mean my cranky side)!
I never win these things, but I’m commenting anyways because I would really LOVE to win these cookbooks!! I usually have the same amount of snacks everyday (about 2-3), but I like to mix them up between mini Clif bars, small pouches of nuts from Trader Joe’s, and of course lots of fruits and veggies. Variety and a mix of carbs and protein are key.