Healthier Snacking

In my last post I talked about how nutrition is so important in weight loss.  Even if you aren't trying to lose weight, nutrition is so important!  Over the course of the past 6 years or so I have lost 25 pounds.  I changed the way I eat and feel so much better, not just because of the weight I lost but because eating cleaner gives me more energy, helps me sleep better and reduces my chronic acid reflux.  Of course everyone is different but I can guarantee you will notice at least a slight difference if you are eating better.  

I eat every few hours.  Seriously.  If I don't, I get hungry (hunger = anger) and no one wants to be around that.  My meals and snacks are on the smaller side usually because my acid reflux doesn't like large quantities of food at once and portion control is a good thing.  So I eat breakfast, a morning snack sometimes, lunch, an afternoon snack and dinner.  I've started posting pics on Instagram (you can follow me - I'm jill2377) of my snacks because I've been trying to mix it up a bit.  I try to have protein, healthy carb and healthy fat in every meal and snack. I also make sure my food is real.  I try to stay away from processed foods or chemical laden foods (my version of "clean" eating).

The snack pictured above is banana (healthy carb), protein (almond butter) and chocolate (not as healthy fat).  Just assemble and freeze.  I swear it can fix any ice cream craving I have.  You can also blend a frozen banana with some cocoa powder and almond butter to have a healthier ice cream.  

Another recent snack - Wheat Thins (healthy carb), Brie Cheese (Protein & Fat), with a dried cranberry and drizzle of honey (somewhat healthy carb and sugar).   Yesterday I had cherries and a plum (healthy carb) mixed in with some cottage cheese (protein & fat).  Hummus and veggies are always a good choice too.

I like to say I stick to 80% clean and healthy eats and 20% is not so much.  Some days it is more like 70/30 and some days it is more like 90/10.  Everyone is different but this works for me.  

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