We used to think snacking was counter-productive to weight loss. Our mothers told us that snacking would cause us to "spoil our appetites" for the next meal. As a Registered Dietitian who is a weight loss specialist, we now know that this isn't true.
After losing 40 pounds and keeping it off for 12 years, I realize that permanent weight loss is less about willpower and more about planning ahead. This includes planning for my next meal well before the time to dine and never leaving home without my snacks.
Carrying snacks at all times has helped me remain in control of my appetite. I always have a box of Triscuits or Quaker Oat Squares in my van. I regularly carry apples, bananas, nuts and cans of V8 juice in my over-sized purse. I find that if I don’t eat a snack when I first begin to feel hungry, I will get that out-of-control urge to binge within an hour or so.
I pride myself on always being in control of my appetite, but I know that this wouldn’t be possible without having access to my snacks. You may notice that your thin friends and coworkers always seem to be eating. You may have even said that they were lucky or blessed with a high metabolism. The truth is that their metabolism is high because they feed their body frequently.
Quaker has developed a new line of snacks that I have found to be very beneficial for my weight loss clients. These products are baked instead of fried, making them much healthier. They satisfy the urge for something salty that crunches without the excess fat and calories that are found in potato chips.
These new products include:
• Quaker Quakes Rice Snacks. They come in several flavors, but Cheddar Cheese seems to be the preferred flavor of my clients. One serving is 9 mini cakes with only 70 calories and 2.5 grams of fat.
• Quaker Potato Sticks. They are shaped like crinkle-cut French fries and come in Sour Cream and Onion or Chili Cheese Flavor. The Chili Cheese Flavor has quite a kick. One serving is 31 sticks and contains 110 calories and 4 grams of fat.
• Quaker Corn Rings. These rings can be compared in flavor to Cheetos. The flavors are Cheddar Cheese, Nacho Cheese and BBQ. One serving is 24 rings with 110 calories and 3 grams of fat.
I need to make healthy choices everyday to keep my weight where I like it. The 40 pounds that I lost 12 years ago is never far from my mind. Eating is one of my top five most enjoyable experiences in the world, with snacking being a large portion of the calories that I consume daily.
The Quakes snacks are loaded with flavor and keep my fat intake under control, even if I do choose to eat more than just one serving. My favorite snack is the Sour Cream and Onion potato sticks. I will count out a serving size (31 sticks), put them into a bowl and put the bag away. I have found that this will prevent me from eating the entire bag. Never eat anything right out of the bag or box.
Your mom may have been right, snacking does "spoil your appetite"... a little, but this prevents you from over-consuming at your next meal. You will feel so much more in control and you will make better choices at that meal. You will truly be eating and living like the thin person you will become.
Jill Fleming, MS, RD is a professional speaker who inspires her audiences to take their health to a new level. Audience members delight in their ability to lose weight and improve their health by following Jill's simple lifestyle choices, THIN CHOICES, after attending her presentation. Jill is also the author of (Thin People Don't Clean Their Plates: Simple Lifestyle Choices for Permanent Weight Loss). Jill resides in Wisconsin with her husband and three children.
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