Abilene Crave

Do you fight food cravings but feel guilty for snacking? Snacking doesn't have to be off-limits when you're trying to eat healthy or lose weight. In fact, snacking can be an important part of your diet if you know how to make the right choices.

Better Bites
When you get a snack craving, it's all right to give in - if you know how to make the most of your snack options. Look for snacks that pack a big nutrient bang. Not only are they better for you, but they may help you feel more full than your normal snack would. Here are a few ideas:

Crunchy Snacks
-Apples and breadsticks
-Carrot, celery or green pepper sticks
-Zucchini circles
-Broccoli or cauliflower spears
-Unsalted rice cakes

Munchy Snacks
-Unsalted sunflower seeds
-Whole-grain breads or toast
-Cherry tomatoes
-Yogurt - plain, low-fat or no-fat
-Unsalted nuts

Sweet Bites
-Thin slice of angel food cake
-Baked apple
-Frozen bananas or grapes
-Fresh fruit
-Raisins

Thirst Quenchers
-Fat-free milk
-Unsweetened juices
-Low-sodium mixed vegetable juices
-Water

Sneaky Sugars
Many snack foods and drinks have added sugar. While they taste good, they tend to be low in vitamins and minerals and higher in calories. And they probably won't make you feel full, so you could be tempted to overeat.
You might not recognize some of the hidden sugars listed on food labels. Here are some other names that sugar goes by: sucrose, glucose, fructose, maltose, dextrose, corn syrups, high-fructose corn syrup, concentrated fruit juice and honey.

When to Eat
Three regular meals a day? Five smaller ones? Which is better - and where do snacks fit in?
Choose what works best for you. The main goal is to not overeat. Some people find it easier to control the amount they eat with four or five small meals. Eating just once or twice a day may lead to overeating because you are hungry. Most people do just fine with three daily meals with a healthy snack in between, if they feel hungry.
Healthy snacking doesn't have to mean boring, tasteless food. There are plenty of good-for-you choices with loads of flavor. The American Heart Association can help. Visit heartcheckmark.org to build your free, personalized, heart-healthy grocery list. The list includes various categories - including snacks.
Snack attacks don't have to control you - if you make the right choices, you can enjoy a snack - guilt-free.