Choose the Right Snacks

[Guest guest]

Tuesday March 04, 2008Welcome to today's edition of Healthy

Living with Ellie Krieger.

Today's Small Change: Eat for energy.

Choose the Right Snacks Does your energy level flatline in the midafternoon?

Do you dread exercising or find it hard to get through your walks without

feeling fatigued? If so, your body may actually be low on fuel. Going too long

without eating can make you feel tired, cranky, and spacey. Small, healthy

snacks or mini meals that include both protein and carbohydrates can help keep

your energy levels high throughout the day. What's more, they take very little

time to prepare. Most of these make a good breakfast on the go too. While you

probably don't want to eat too close to your workout, having a high-energy snack

about an hour before you exercise is a great way to keep your energy level high.

Today's small change is to try one of the energizing snacks below — or come up

with your own healthful protein-and-carbohydrate snack — to enjoy when your body

needs it. Here are some sample snacks:

Sliced apple with peanut butter (1 tablespoon)

Turkey and tomato on whole-wheat bread (1 slice)

Low-fat cottage cheese and a peach or pear

A hard-boiled egg and a piece of fruit

Almonds (1 & #8260;3 cup) and dried apricots (1 & #8260;4 cup)

A yogurt-and-fruit smoothie

Hummus (1 & #8260;4 cup) and baby carrots

Low-fat yogurt and fresh strawberries

Baked sweet potato with low-fat cottage cheese

Baked tortilla chips (10) and low-fat bean dip (1 & #8260;2 cup)

Reduced-fat cheese (1 1 & #8260;2 ounces) and whole-grain crackers (5)

Half a peanut butter and banana sandwich (1 tablespoon peanut butter)

If there's no fun in it,

something's wrong with

all you're doing.

~N.V. Peale