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!)
My favorite snack is fat-free Chobani! Its tasty and super filling. To add a little carbs you can mix in some low-fat granola and I have a snack that keeps me filled an entire afternoon at work!
I absolutely love salty foods like chips, so I’ve become a huge fan of kale and zucchini chip, as well as fresh fruit for my snacks! I live experimenting with different flavored for the chips as well! I usually have 1-2 snacks per day to keep me going between meals.
I love snacking! I keep it healthy when healthy stuff is around, but I still live at home and there is always something junky in the pantry! The temptation is hard to resist.
I LOVE grapefruit with honey on top….raw, sage honey is the best! Just thinking about it makes my mouth water! One thing that I do for sensible snacking is I started buying these “econo baggies”. It is one baggie and both ends of the baggie have a zipper. One side is the size for a sandwich and the other size is a snack size. It helps me with portion control if I want some pretzels or chi[s with my sandwich.
I try to limit myself to 3 snacks, one between breakfast + lunch, between lunch + dinner (crucial!), and then after dinner if needed. A lot of times I’m not hungry enough to have one between bfast and lunch, but all the others are pretty much needed. I also try to make sure I have fruit with some fat (aka PB or hummus!)
Love Ellie! Love the clean and real food she turns into receipes. As for favorite snacks..hummus/veggies and popcorn are my favorites lately! Trying to teach my boys about healthy snacking…and what makes good chocies.
I have about 2 snacks per day. I just recently found Rise Energy bars (Gf, dairy free, soy free) & I’m in love. The blueberry coconut flavor tastes like an almond joy but infinitely healthier!
Good questions, and so true that we tend to snack when we have nothing to do! With a 6 month old at home, I find that I eat whenever I get the chance, so sometimes I find myself shoveling down snacks just because I know I won’t be able to eat for hours. It’s much better when I prepare with a lot of options for one-handed kitchen walk-through snacks like cut fruit or veggies and hummus, nuts and dried fruit.
I usually roll with 3 meals and 2 snacks. I don’t get a lot of sleep these days with a little one so my energy tends to dip between meals. A snack of fruit with nut butter or protein oats are great go to energy lifts that I can eat at work. I keep my meals lighter too since big meals just make me sleepier!
I love Ellie!! She’s a big inspiration for me as I am on my road to becoming an RD. I usually have about 2-3 snacks a day, depending on my physical activity that day, etc. Lately I am loving Cliff Mojo bars and tons of summer fruit for daily snacks!
I try not to snack too much and usually plan my snacks throughout the day (allowing myself two a day). Now that I am pregnant though…all rules are out the window! LOL.
I found that I ate snacks because I wasn’t satisfied with my meals, however this lead to over-eating as I wasn’t aware of my proportions in the past. I’ve learned to be in more control of what I’ve eaten. Recently, I’ve developed fitness goals that are attainable and I’ve been more conscious than ever with my choices of snacks as well. Since I go with the flow in terms of snacking, whenever I do want a snack I look for low-refined sugars. high fibre or high protein ones.
My favorites are plain unsweetened yogurt with cinnamon and almonds (great ice cream replacer as well! :D) and almond or organic peanut butter with a spoon 😛
When I’m in school, I usually have a midmorning and mid-afternoon snack. But I have to be careful because a lot of times my snack will leave me wanting more and I will mindlessly eat all day.
I’m a horrible snacker and usually reach for the guilt comfort snacks. I think to snack healthy (especially at work) you need to not bring in the unhealthy stuff and bring in the healthy snacks that don’t take much preparation. If you spend an hour or so on Sunday prepping the snacks for the week then you wont have to worry about running out to the grocery store to buy the unhealthy stuff on your lunch break (like honey mustard and onion pretzel pieces where one serving is never enough).
I’m a snacker. I’m always afraid of being hungry, so I always eat thinking I might be hungry. It’s only bad stuff at night though! I’ll snack on cereal and end up with the whole box. 🙁 Luna bars are one of my favorite go-to snacks during the day.
I always feel like I am eating the right meals if I feel that I DO need a snack. I definitely don’t skimp on food ever, but if I have eaten a not-so-healthy meal, I tend to not feel like I need a snack later. On the other hand, if I’ve eaten a plate full of veggies, healthy fats, and some good carbs, my body craves a little booster later, which I give her! My favorite snacks are almonds, homemade larabars, fruit, and TOAST!
my appetite is all over the place but i always have something with me. For a sweet snack i like dates or fruit with nut butter. For a savory snack i like carrots with tahini or tahini based dip.
This post is my favorite subject…..snacking! I try to include a carb, healthy fat and protein to each snack and meal, but sometimes you just can’t beat chips and salsa!
I love seaweed snacks – crispy and salty for when I’m craving chips. An apple and a handful of almonds is usually my go to at work – I keep almonds in my desk and my work supplies fresh fruit.
I love snacks! I would rather snack than eat lunch, but I try to eat lunch instead 😉 I really liked her answers to the questions, and hope more healthy role models will emerge in the cooking world!
I make sure that my snacks have protein and/or fiber! I LOVE plain Greek Yogurt with fresh fruit! I purchased some One Lucky Duck Macaroons while in NYC and I have one of those with a piece of dark chocolate for my night time snack. (: Mmmmm!!
I have pretty long, boring workdays, so, I have to pack snacks so I don’t mindlessly pick at crackers and cupcakes we have in the lunchroom (how, when working with only 7 other people are there always cupcakes?!). I am absolutely loving dried mango slices (http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11065652&whse=BD_823&topnav=bdoff&browse=&lang=en-US) right now; and since it’s summer, am always stocked up on nectarines….yum!
I’m a huge snacker. I love peanut butter so much that I almost always choose an apple and peanut butter to get me through the afternoon. I’m also a big fan of smoothies.
Some days I need snacks, others I don’t. I always try to make sure I have at least 1 veggie/fruit at snack time. But other than that I just try to plan the best I can with the meals I’m having that day.
I’m an Elie Krieger fan, too! My favorite healthy snack is whatever fruit I’m obsessed with that day. I keep a variety around so when I feel like eating I grab a mango, orange, apple, banana, pear, apricot, peach (HELLO SUMMER! I LOVE YOU!), grapes. There’s a fruit revolving door over here and I love it! This is definitely the most and most varied fruit I’ve ever eaten.
Wow, i love comfort foods! I would love to win these cookbooks because I only have a few and i think these could get a lot of use out of them 🙂 Also i love macaroons too much!
I LOVE Ellie Krieger! I used to watch her show every morning, but it’s not on anymore 🙁 How cool that you had that great opportunity! I do love to snack — usually on nuts or some homemade buckwheat chips. I also have to have a “protein” cookie around 9pm as a treat — i look forward to it as my “splurge” 🙂 hehe thanks for doing the giveaway!
I am working on this! I find my meals are generally pretty balanced, but my snacks tend not to be so much. Even healthy snacks like a piece of fruit don’t do much for my hunger if I don’t add some protein or fat (preferably both!). My major snacking time is between lunch and dinner, and it is particularly bad days when I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get home for dinner – I find myself having 3 snacks! Got to work on that! I’ve been eating a greek yogurt everyday but am starting to get sick of it, so I need to find another fast easy protein source!
I also do 3 meals, 2 snacks, and try to ensure a combo of carbs/ protein/ fat in each. I always have Luna bars on hand, otherwise I’ll go with whole wheat crackers/ hummus, fruit/ nuts, or an egg on toast w/ marinara and olives. The other day I had a slice of whole wheat toast topped w/ almond butter, apple slices, and cinnamon – heaven!
I could really fet better with my snacking-I’m a total grazer! I dont always have the same snack but i generally have it at the same time-post work, pre dinner munchies!
YoU have no idea how much I would live those cookbooks. I love ellie so much. She has heaven me so many good ideas. Those cookbooks would help me so much on my weight loss journey. Probably my favorite giveaway you have ever done!!
I actually prefer snacks over big meals. Celery and hummus or nut thins and salmon dip are my current favs. Large meals just make me feel sick to my stomach.
My favorite snack is fat-free Chobani! Its tasty and super filling. To add a little carbs you can mix in some low-fat granola and I have a snack that keeps me filled an entire afternoon at work!
I love snacks and I need them to ward off hunger between meals. I usually have a piece of fruit with peanut butter or almonds or sometimes a smoothie.
I absolutely love salty foods like chips, so I’ve become a huge fan of kale and zucchini chip, as well as fresh fruit for my snacks! I live experimenting with different flavored for the chips as well! I usually have 1-2 snacks per day to keep me going between meals.
I love snacking! I keep it healthy when healthy stuff is around, but I still live at home and there is always something junky in the pantry! The temptation is hard to resist.
I LOVE grapefruit with honey on top….raw, sage honey is the best! Just thinking about it makes my mouth water! One thing that I do for sensible snacking is I started buying these “econo baggies”. It is one baggie and both ends of the baggie have a zipper. One side is the size for a sandwich and the other size is a snack size. It helps me with portion control if I want some pretzels or chi[s with my sandwich.
I try to limit myself to 3 snacks, one between breakfast + lunch, between lunch + dinner (crucial!), and then after dinner if needed. A lot of times I’m not hungry enough to have one between bfast and lunch, but all the others are pretty much needed. I also try to make sure I have fruit with some fat (aka PB or hummus!)
I like to snack on flavored almonds, or a banana with PB.
Love Ellie K.!
Hummus and red pepper strips-yum, nuts, peanut butter. I try to eat more small meals a day rather than snack but I have to have something before bed.
My favorite snacks are probably berries or an apple with nut butter, hummus and veggies, or popcorn. Especially Trader Joes kettle corn. Yum!
I’m actually not a huge snacker – usually I’m good with 3 meals.
I really am trying not to snack so much, but if I am going to, I love pretzels or apples with peanut butter.
I bought a container of cocoa roasted almonds recently. Just the hint of cocoa is great when I want something sweet!
Love Ellie! Love the clean and real food she turns into receipes. As for favorite snacks..hummus/veggies and popcorn are my favorites lately! Trying to teach my boys about healthy snacking…and what makes good chocies.
I have about 2 snacks per day. I just recently found Rise Energy bars (Gf, dairy free, soy free) & I’m in love. The blueberry coconut flavor tastes like an almond joy but infinitely healthier!
Good questions, and so true that we tend to snack when we have nothing to do! With a 6 month old at home, I find that I eat whenever I get the chance, so sometimes I find myself shoveling down snacks just because I know I won’t be able to eat for hours. It’s much better when I prepare with a lot of options for one-handed kitchen walk-through snacks like cut fruit or veggies and hummus, nuts and dried fruit.
I usually roll with 3 meals and 2 snacks. I don’t get a lot of sleep these days with a little one so my energy tends to dip between meals. A snack of fruit with nut butter or protein oats are great go to energy lifts that I can eat at work. I keep my meals lighter too since big meals just make me sleepier!
I love Ellie!! She’s a big inspiration for me as I am on my road to becoming an RD. I usually have about 2-3 snacks a day, depending on my physical activity that day, etc. Lately I am loving Cliff Mojo bars and tons of summer fruit for daily snacks!
i love ellie and would love to win her cookbook (not to mention some macaroons!)
I try not to snack too much and usually plan my snacks throughout the day (allowing myself two a day). Now that I am pregnant though…all rules are out the window! LOL.
I found that I ate snacks because I wasn’t satisfied with my meals, however this lead to over-eating as I wasn’t aware of my proportions in the past. I’ve learned to be in more control of what I’ve eaten. Recently, I’ve developed fitness goals that are attainable and I’ve been more conscious than ever with my choices of snacks as well. Since I go with the flow in terms of snacking, whenever I do want a snack I look for low-refined sugars. high fibre or high protein ones.
My favorites are plain unsweetened yogurt with cinnamon and almonds (great ice cream replacer as well! :D) and almond or organic peanut butter with a spoon 😛
When I’m in school, I usually have a midmorning and mid-afternoon snack. But I have to be careful because a lot of times my snack will leave me wanting more and I will mindlessly eat all day.
This happens to me in the afternoon! Nothing feels me up and I can just eat and eat until dinner.
almonds and string cheese are my go to snack. I also really like ak-mak crackers with some hummus. YUM!
I’m a horrible snacker and usually reach for the guilt comfort snacks. I think to snack healthy (especially at work) you need to not bring in the unhealthy stuff and bring in the healthy snacks that don’t take much preparation. If you spend an hour or so on Sunday prepping the snacks for the week then you wont have to worry about running out to the grocery store to buy the unhealthy stuff on your lunch break (like honey mustard and onion pretzel pieces where one serving is never enough).
I love Ellie Krieger too!
I love snacking on popcorn
Also fond of yogurt + some granola
And banana, nut butter & some cacao nibs
I am guilty of mindless snacking. But I try not to keep junk in the apartment so I end up snacking on fruit and veggies.
Hummus and gf crackers are my favorite snack.
My snack of choice is some greek yogurt topped with some mixed nuts. A great alternative to sugary granolas!
I’m a snacker. I’m always afraid of being hungry, so I always eat thinking I might be hungry. It’s only bad stuff at night though! I’ll snack on cereal and end up with the whole box. 🙁 Luna bars are one of my favorite go-to snacks during the day.
I always feel like I am eating the right meals if I feel that I DO need a snack. I definitely don’t skimp on food ever, but if I have eaten a not-so-healthy meal, I tend to not feel like I need a snack later. On the other hand, if I’ve eaten a plate full of veggies, healthy fats, and some good carbs, my body craves a little booster later, which I give her! My favorite snacks are almonds, homemade larabars, fruit, and TOAST!
I have never seen her show before. Definitely gonna have to check it out. Hope I win!
my appetite is all over the place but i always have something with me. For a sweet snack i like dates or fruit with nut butter. For a savory snack i like carrots with tahini or tahini based dip.
This post is my favorite subject…..snacking! I try to include a carb, healthy fat and protein to each snack and meal, but sometimes you just can’t beat chips and salsa!
I try to snack only if I’m hungry and not just out of habit, but it doesn’t always work, especially when I’m bored…
I love seaweed snacks – crispy and salty for when I’m craving chips. An apple and a handful of almonds is usually my go to at work – I keep almonds in my desk and my work supplies fresh fruit.
I love snacks! I would rather snack than eat lunch, but I try to eat lunch instead 😉 I really liked her answers to the questions, and hope more healthy role models will emerge in the cooking world!
I make sure that my snacks have protein and/or fiber! I LOVE plain Greek Yogurt with fresh fruit! I purchased some One Lucky Duck Macaroons while in NYC and I have one of those with a piece of dark chocolate for my night time snack. (: Mmmmm!!
I have pretty long, boring workdays, so, I have to pack snacks so I don’t mindlessly pick at crackers and cupcakes we have in the lunchroom (how, when working with only 7 other people are there always cupcakes?!). I am absolutely loving dried mango slices (http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11065652&whse=BD_823&topnav=bdoff&browse=&lang=en-US) right now; and since it’s summer, am always stocked up on nectarines….yum!
I’m a huge snacker. I love peanut butter so much that I almost always choose an apple and peanut butter to get me through the afternoon. I’m also a big fan of smoothies.
Some days I need snacks, others I don’t. I always try to make sure I have at least 1 veggie/fruit at snack time. But other than that I just try to plan the best I can with the meals I’m having that day.
I’m an Elie Krieger fan, too! My favorite healthy snack is whatever fruit I’m obsessed with that day. I keep a variety around so when I feel like eating I grab a mango, orange, apple, banana, pear, apricot, peach (HELLO SUMMER! I LOVE YOU!), grapes. There’s a fruit revolving door over here and I love it! This is definitely the most and most varied fruit I’ve ever eaten.
Wow, i love comfort foods! I would love to win these cookbooks because I only have a few and i think these could get a lot of use out of them 🙂 Also i love macaroons too much!
I LOVE Ellie Krieger! I used to watch her show every morning, but it’s not on anymore 🙁 How cool that you had that great opportunity! I do love to snack — usually on nuts or some homemade buckwheat chips. I also have to have a “protein” cookie around 9pm as a treat — i look forward to it as my “splurge” 🙂 hehe thanks for doing the giveaway!
I am working on this! I find my meals are generally pretty balanced, but my snacks tend not to be so much. Even healthy snacks like a piece of fruit don’t do much for my hunger if I don’t add some protein or fat (preferably both!). My major snacking time is between lunch and dinner, and it is particularly bad days when I’m not sure when I’ll be able to get home for dinner – I find myself having 3 snacks! Got to work on that! I’ve been eating a greek yogurt everyday but am starting to get sick of it, so I need to find another fast easy protein source!
I also do 3 meals, 2 snacks, and try to ensure a combo of carbs/ protein/ fat in each. I always have Luna bars on hand, otherwise I’ll go with whole wheat crackers/ hummus, fruit/ nuts, or an egg on toast w/ marinara and olives. The other day I had a slice of whole wheat toast topped w/ almond butter, apple slices, and cinnamon – heaven!
I could really fet better with my snacking-I’m a total grazer! I dont always have the same snack but i generally have it at the same time-post work, pre dinner munchies!
YoU have no idea how much I would live those cookbooks. I love ellie so much. She has heaven me so many good ideas. Those cookbooks would help me so much on my weight loss journey. Probably my favorite giveaway you have ever done!!
Snacking with my own homemade bars, which makes a good 7-10 bars, with:
dates
toasted nuts (sunflower, peanuts, almonds etc.)
nutmeg
ginger powder
cinnamon
pinch of salt
I actually prefer snacks over big meals. Celery and hummus or nut thins and salmon dip are my current favs. Large meals just make me feel sick to my stomach.
I need develop a snack strategy!! I’m not very good at planning ahead and then I end up starving and just grab whatever!
These books look amazing! I usually have 1-2 snacks a day. Maybe an apple, cheese stick, or bar.