In this fast world the emergence of fast food and snack food have evolved greatly.



Instead of three main meals, many people prefer easy snack foods whenever they get time throughout the day. There are various snacking occasions which includes when at work or desk, when tensed or anxious, specific time of a day, when relaxed sitting at home, or when out with friends for enjoyment. But the question which arises is – Is our snacking healthy?

Snacking depends largely on your age, sex and lifestyle like your daily balanced diet.



Snacking on wrong foods often gives you the extra unnecessary calories from fat without fulfilling the requirement of vital vitamins and minerals. Healthy snacking is especially very important and a matter of concern for obese adults. This is because as one grows older a persons physical activity decrease and lifestyle changes, energy expenditure becomes low while intake remains high which ultimately leads to obesity.

It is also necessary to inculcate healthy snacking habits in kids while they are small so that they take these habits in a positive way as they grow older.





Healthy snacking tips –

• Have healthy snack handy at home and carry some when you are out. Avoid buying wafers, junk foods, sweets, chocolates, cakes, processed or packed foods as far as possible so the chance of snacking on them reduces.
• Prepare some healthy snacks and place them in such places where in you can reach easily like a refrigerator. You can place dry fruits like dates, raisins, apricots or place cut pieces of fresh watermelon, apple, pear, oranges, or peaches.
  
  
  
  
• Choose your favorite fruits for making a fruit salad (avoid adding cream in it).
• Cut pieces of vegetables like carrots, cucumber and dip them in some flavored low-fat yoghurt. This also serves as excellent healthy snack or finger foods for kids.
  
  
  
  
• Whole wheat bread can be stuffed with vegetables to make a healthy sandwich. Replace mayonnaise and butter with hung low-fat yoghurt. Lean meat, egg and steamed tuna also gel well with vegetable sandwich.
• Cereals along with a cup of low fat milk are wise for breakfast.
  
  
  
  You can even add fruits like bananas, apples or oranges in it for better palatability.
• Set a daily time for snacking and avoid nibbling at any other time of the day rather than the particular set time.
• Spare time from your busy schedule to eat your main meals. This will avoid hunger pangs and thus wrong snacking at wrong time.
• Choose air popped popcorn with minimum salt, whole grain cookies, oatmeal cookies, low-fat milk, low-fat yoghurt, roasted grins and cereals.
• Avoid snacks that contain fat, butter, sugar and excess salt as these are the major causes for health related issues.