I love everything about snacking: the brief period of satisfaction that results from consuming something delicious, the sense of activity and livelihood I feel while biting into and then chewing the food, and the unique taste and smell that each new snack brings to my sensorial world. Despite the fact that I love snacks, however, I try to consume them in moderation as a result of my awareness that mindlessly eating food throughout the day can pack on the pounds. Yet while this is certainly true, it is also the case that frequent snacking can contribute to weight loss. Although the concept of eating snacks to shed pounds may sound counterintuitive, there are sound reasons why it works. Here are two.
1. Snacking Can Reduce Binging And Help Manage Hunger.
In discussing the role that snack consumption can play in aiding weight loss, MayoClinic notes that eating healthy snacks is permissible in many weight loss plans. They go on to point out why doing so can be advantageous. Oftentimes, individuals who do not consume food for several hours find themselves ravenously hungry. Thus when they finally eat, they stuff themselves with a large high-calorie meal that helps pack on the pounds. Upon consuming small snacks during time periods in which an entire meal cannot be eaten, however, you can easily curb hunger and reduce the desire to binge when you finally have time to sit down for dinner. This is why MayoClinic states that avoiding snacks when you experience profound hunger is not a good idea if weight loss is your goal. Eating them, on the other hand, can be beneficial.
2. Snacking Boosts Your Metabolism.
In their discussion regarding the role that snacking can play in helping you shed pounds, FamilyCircle states that eating tiny meals can contribute to the weight loss process. This is the case, they say, because snacking gives you a metabolic boost that results from digesting, processing, and storing energy. This metabolic boost, they conclude, could result in you expending up to 90 calories daily on an 1800 calorie a day diet.
While the information above presents us with strong evidence that snacking can aid the weight loss process, it is important to understand that simply consuming anything will not be advantageous. Specifically, eating high-caloric snacks like potato chips or chocolate probably will not result in profound weight loss because the components in the food contribute to weight gain. Making healthy choices, however, will likely contribute to the weight loss process. Examples of healthy choices include but are not limited to sliced apples with all-natural peanut butter or trail mix. One of my personal favorite snacks is almonds. In addition to having the sort of fresh and slightly crunchy taste that brings my senses to life, almonds are packed with great nutrients like magnesium, vitamin E, and calcium. These are only some of the nutritious and delicious snacks that you can consume to aid your weight loss endeavors. Good luck!
