Diet & Fitness

By Shawn McKee
Staff Writer

Let's face it: We get hungry between meals. When we're hungry we get grumpy, irritable or just plain mean. So we grab a quick food fix to satiate our appetite and elevate our mood.

This can be where most people stray from their otherwise healthy eating routine. Even if you're diligent in eating breakfast, packing your lunch and cooking your own dinner, you may overlook your afternoon nibbling and find the only thing available is vending machine junk food -- packed with unwanted fat and calories.

You can avoid a snacking misstep by planning ahead. Choose a few things that you can mix and match to have on hand when the munchies strike and snack yourself skinny.

"The key to proper snacking is a nice balance of protein, fiber and good fats to keep blood sugar levels stable and your hunger satisfied," explains eDiets Nutrition Specialist Renee Brunetti, LD/N. She recommends buying a few snack staples that can be mixed and matched for healthy snacks that won't get boring.

Here's a list of snacks to stock for whenever hunger strikes:

Low-fat cheese pairs perfectly with whole grain crackers for a crunchy treat or with fruit for "a great combination of calcium and protein from the cheese and vitamins and fiber from the fruit," recommends Renee.

Nuts are a good mix of protein, fiber and "good" plant fats that can be kept anywhere (your office, for instance) for instant snacking. Most studies suggest that snacking on nuts is good for your cholesterol, as well as general heart health as long as you don't overdo it. A small handful is the ideal snack size.

Fruit is always a good choice -- packed with various vitamins and fiber. Fruit, in addition to cheese, can be paired with yogurt, peanut butter, or Granola and cereal bars for a nicely balanced snack.

Peanut butter is great with celery sticks, whole grain crackers or bread and can be easily stored.

Granola and cereal bars are great when you're on-the-go. You can pack one in your purse and snack when or wherever you can grab a spare second. Here's Renee's rule for bars:

"You always want the first ingredient listed to be whole grains and for each serving to contain four grams of fiber or more. This will generally ensure that the snack is not too high in sugar and will help keep you satisfied longer."

So stock your desk drawer, the fridge at work, your purse, pocket, glove box or lunchbox with these simple snack ideas that will keep you satisfied and skinny. Happy snacking!

And check out earlier tweaks that will help you lose weight, one small change at a time:
Tweak of the Week: Drink to Weight Loss!
Tweak of the Week: Healthy Sandwich Switches

Our experts can offer a lot of other small changes you can do right now. Send your questions to our nutritional experts today, or call 866-756-0510 Mondays to Fridays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., or Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Do you have a simple switch, tip or trick for losing weight and living healthy? Post it below to potentially be featured in an upcoming Tweak of the Week.