Do you remember the last time you waited too long between your last meal or snack?
For optimum health and energy levels, our body's were designed by nature to expect foods at certain intervals to retain our energy levels. Remember, the basic premise of nutrition is that the source of fuel for our body's is the foods we eat daily. Ideally, your body anticipates a new infusion every 4- 6 hours. Adhering to this schedule aids your major organs, blood sugars plus the muscles and joints to receive a continuous flow of energy from the cells. Without this continuous ebb and flow, most people complain of reduced energy levels thus ultimately becoming very tired and cranky.
4 Slice Toaster
So serving your body several mini-meals or snacks during the days consisting of a good balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fiber and fats will be enough to keep your mind and body satisfied until it's time for its next meal.
Popular Snacks Around 100 Calories Or Below
Snack time does not have to mean deprivation either. With a little advanced planning and some preparation you can have snacks, low in calories that taste just as good as the meal itself.
combine in a blender 1 cup nonfat peach yogurt, 1 bag (16 oz) no sugar added thawed peaches from the freezer plus 1/2 cup no sugar added apple juice. Blend and then pour into 10 pieces of 3oz paper cups. Freeze for approximately 1 hour and serve soft serve with a spoon. If you prefer, add a popsicle stick and freeze for four hours longer till firm.
2 graham cracker squares spread with 2 teaspoons peanut butter
1 piece thin sliced fresh turkey breast, dijon mustard, one slice tomato, chopped onion plus 1 whole piece of romaine leaf lettuce. Place the turkey breast on the lettuce leaf, spread with a little dijon mustard and add the tomato and onion. Roll up into a sandwich roll and enjoy.
1 cup homemade vegetable soup
1 oatmeal raisin cookie with your choice of unsweetened (iced or hot) tea with a spritz of fresh lemon for sweetener
1/2 cup lowfat cottage cheese plus a whole fresh pear
1 slice whole wheat bread, sliced tomato and 1 piece lowfat cheese - place in oven or broiler until melted
handful fresh spinach leaves plus your choice of two of the following: diced cucumbers, sliced mushrooms, diced celery or green pepper strips. Add to this 3 large red strawberries, thinly sliced. Combine 1 tsp olive oil, 1 tsp plain rice vinegar and 1/4 tsp dijon mustard. Sprinkle with garlic powder and parsley flakes. Mix well. Use as a dipping sauce for the salad.
Other Kid-Friendly High Energy Snacks
Kids will be kids. And when the whole gang from the neighborhood or school is going to descend on your house, food will not be far from their mind also. But standard snack foods all lead to a generation of overweight, but under-nourished type 2 diabetic children. A generation brought up on high fats, high calories, high carbs and way too much sugar leads to a generation of kids with a shopping list of formerly common adult medical conditions. Reducing this trend but still serving the kids some favorites just takes a little more planning:
1/2 whole wheat english muffin, 1 tsp marinara sauce, sprinkling of diced fresh mushrooms and green peppers, with low-fat shredded mozzarella shreds. Broil till the cheese melts and browns.
1 piece whole wheat bread (or toast), 1 tsp. no sugar (or homemade) peanut butter plus 1/2 banana, sliced thinly. Assemble all into a half sandwich and serve.
1" cubes of oven-baked turkey breast, 1" chunks of string cheese and 1" chunks of watermelon or honeydew cubes. Skewer one piece of each on a toothpick and serve.
homemade trail mix using whole wheat cereal (Cheerios), raw and unsalted nuts (almonds or english walnuts) or raw peanuts, mini dark chocolate chips, raisins, craisins and any assortment of seeds of your choice.
1 whole wheat toaster waffle spread with 1 tsp. peanut butter and a dollop of fat free vanilla yogurt. Sprinkle the top with chopped peanuts.
fruit smoothie from fat free milk or yogurt, fresh fruit chunks, plus 2 ice cubes. Blend until smooth, pour into serving glasses and sprinkle with cinnamon and add a slice of fresh fruit to the glass rim.
So coming up with some new healthy high energy snacks isn't all that difficult. Check through your cupboards and pantry, find out what you have your kids seem to enjoy and just think of a few new ways to assemble them into some super kid-friendly snacks.