HEALTH

Sometimes it’s hard to justify that mid-afternoon snack when you’ve already eaten lunch, but it turns out snacking isn’t something you should feel guilty about at all. So long as you are eating healthy snacks and spreading your meals out over the course of the day, enjoying small snacks throughout the day is something you really ought to be doing. Here’s why.

Snacking keeps your metabolism active. Eating three big meals means your body has a lot of work to do three times every day. The more you eat in one sitting, the harder it is for your body to work it off. However, eating small portions over a long period of time is less taxing for your body and keeps your metabolism moving more continuously throughout the day.

The smaller portions help control your appetite. Ironically, eating more often actually helps prevent you from eating too much, particularly too much of the wrong thing. If you’re eating more frequently throughout the day, you’re less likely to overeat when it comes time for lunch or dinner because you aren’t as hungry when you sit down. You’re also far more likely to pick up an apple or a handful of almonds instead of a bag of chips or an order of fries if you’re eating throughout the day and controlling your appetite. The less hungry you are, the less tempting the junk food will be.

You’ll concentrate better. Keeping your body nourished throughout the day will help you stay focused, in class or at work, and even retain more information. Who wants to pay attention in summer school with a rumbling stomach? You’ll also find yourself with far more energy, which will help you focus as well. If you find yourself starting to drag around mid-afternoon, eating a small snack could give you that extra boost of energy you need to make it through the rest of the day.

What are some of your favorite healthy snacks? Share them with us in the comments below!

by Alexis Ancel | 6/25/2016