Snack Right for Weight Loss

People who skip breakfast in an attempt to save calories set the stage for a day of questionable (or downright unhealthy) food choices.

By midmorning, they’re likely to be fighting hunger pangs and, all too often, the call of the vending machine proves too loud to ignore. A bag of potato chips or a candy bar may take the edge off, but they won’t do much good for those who are counting calories or battling the scale.

Snacking itself isn’t a bad thing. Misconceptions about eating between meals may have arisen from classic snack choices: after-school milk and cookies, salt- and fat-filled munchies, and the like.

But when approached with nutrition in mind and good intentions at the forefront, snacking can actually help dieters stay on track. Snacks that are light on calories but satisfying enough to get you through to lunchtime can be a useful tool in a weight-loss regimen.

Anything that helps your employees keep their weight in check is worth your undivided attention. Obesity and its associated medical issues can end up costing your business more than just money but also productivity and inconveniences due to health-related absenteeism.

New research indicates that eating nuts every day can help control type 2 diabetes, a disease linked to obesity. Not only do nuts contain “good fats,” and taste pretty good, to boot, but these findings give people one more reason to reach for a satisfyingly crunchy snack next time the munchies strike.

Just keep in mind that nuts are high in calories, so indulge in moderation. In fact, that’s a good rule of thumb for most snacks, which are simply tools to get you through to the next meal, and not mini meals in themselves.

There are plenty of other diet-friendly and tasty snack options to choose from, as well.

Here are just a few ideas from the Mayo Clinic: