There are a lot of snack bars and other expensive options for diet snacks. Don’t overlook the simple things in your pantry. One of my favorite standbys is Fiber One cereal. Not any of the new offerings from them. Just the basic, original sticks. I discovered Fiber One the first time I ever tried the Atkins diet. It was before Atkins came out with their own food line and to stay on the diet you had to read labels on food religiously. It was a real learning experience. After having a craving for cereal I spent quite a bit of time in the cereal aisle one night and finally got to Fiber One. It is perhaps the perfect low carb, low calorie cereal. If you are really on the Atkins diet have it with real cream as a moist cereal. It’s decadent, and still on your diet! But for the healthy lifestyle diet (where we promote eating less and exercising more) use the dry cereal as a snack. It’s naturally sweet with a satisfying crunch. Toss in a few nuts and raisins every now and then for variety. Top it off with a big glass of water and you’re doing yourself and your colon good. To steal another cereal slogan… It’s Grrrreat!
TODAY: NO JOKE. HAVE SOME FIBER ONE TO BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE.
This one is a bit of a trick. Yes there are snacks that are good for your diet. Those bags of little carrots are right up there with the best of them. Crunchy, satisfying, tasty, full of good fiber. Keep some on hand to grab instead of high calorie snacks. Then the next time you get a check-up and weigh in you can say “What’s up Doc?”
TODAY: GET SOME CARROTS FOR SNACKING.
Saturday is here and the weather is really wicked everywhere. It’s going to be tough to resist eating too much. The key is going to be keeping the snacks satisfying yet low in calories. I mentioned the chicken broth earlier in the week. A hot cup of that is a mere 20 calories. You’ll find that beef broth gives you another option and a trip to the soup aisle will show you that there are several other options including some exotic choices including oriental and spicy. Just check the labels for total calories. A warm tasty sip will take the edge off your cravings.
TODAY: KEEP BUSY TO KEEP YOUR MIND OFF OF EATING.
You really can kick up your energy without junk food by having a vegetable drink. Of course V8 comes to mind, but there are others to choose from too. Simple tomato juice is an option or really give yourself a kick with carrot juice. You’ll get a real warm effect from the niacin it that. No matter what your choice you’ll find it satisfying while adding some variety to your diet and more vegetables to meet your daily quota. Visit the juice aisle and check out the choices. Don’t forget to read the labels to avoid being tricked into a bunch of hidden calories.
TODAY: REV UP YOUR DIET WITH A V8.
Cold weather can make you feel like eating all the time. You actually are burning more calories keeping warm The problem is getting calories that won’t make you put on warming layers of fat. Soup always is a great choice. But it can be full of hidden calories and carbs. This is where chicken noodle soup without noodles comes in. A handy container of chicken broth is a fast, easy snack. Pop a cup in the microwave and enjoy a satisfying snack. By simmering some veggies you make a substantial meal. I also really like matzo ball soup. But of course the matzo is full of carbs. But I’ve found that by just cooking celery in the broth you have a really close replica.
So stock up with stock and when spring comes you’ll be less stocky.
TODAY: ADD SOME STOCK TO YOUR PANTRY.
Are you drinking the amount of water you should drink every day? Probably not since studies indicate that 75% of Americans are actually chronically dehydrated. That’s amazing since there seem to be water bottles everywhere. The problem with being overweight may be part of this because the thirst mechanism tricks you into thinking you’re hungry.
Here are some other facts to remember:
- Not drinking enough water slows down your metabolism.
- Almost 100% of the dieters in a University of Washington study found that a glass of water will shut down evening hunger pangs.
- Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
- Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
- A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
- Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.
Nothing special is needed to meet your daily water needs. We’re fortunate in the United States to have plenty of clean, clear water right from the tap. So sit a glass by the sink and take a few swigs whenever you pass by.
TODAY: MAKE A REAL EFFORT TO DRINK MORE WATER.
An idle mind is the diet’s playground. Boredom often leads you to food. Sitting, mindlessly stuffing snacks in your face doesn’t really satisfy your needs. You may even end up feeling guilty later and that will depress you and you’ll eat some more to feel better. Get busy! I’m sure you’ve had those days when you simply forget to eat, or grab something quick. Make sure when that happens that you eat high quality protein. It will recharge your brain and boost your metabolism. Evenings? Take up a hobby, clean the house, even search the internet. It will keep your hands doing something besides reaching in a bag of calories.
TODAY: KEEP BUSY MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY.
Daily Nag, Food Choices | Diet Nag | 
February 18, 2011 6:11 am | 
Comments (0) 
Subscribe