Ask Leah! The Ingles Dietitian

Sponsored: Do I need to snack?

ingles dietitianI really don’t get hungry between meals… do I really need to snack?

Answer: There is no rule that says you need to snack. 

We have become a nation of “snackers” but it’s important to remember that snacks are not meant to replace meals (that’s called “grazing”) and should be included in our total daily calorie intake. If you spend the better part of your day sitting you probably don’t need to snack. An extra 100-200 calories a couple of times a day adds up. Even if you pick "healthy snacks", this could mean the difference when trying to lose weight. Do an honest self-check and keep track of the calories in your meals, snacks and beverages over for at least 3 days.

Smart snacking strategy: 

drink water, chew on sugar-free gum, or save part of breakfast or lunch meal to eat later as a snack.

 

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Leah McGrath, RDN, LDN

Ingles Markets Corporate Dietitian

twitter.com/InglesDietitian

facebook.com/LeahMcgrathDietitian

800-334-4936

 

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