Whether you eat three main meals or six minimeals through the day, the trick lies in never going hungry and never overeating either. By starving yourself, you'll just eat more at the next meal while teaching your body to store fat. Snack sensibly, so much so that - the more you eat, the more you lose. Sounds too good to be true? Read about these 7 super snacks that aid weight loss and you'll understand why.
Yogurt: Yogurt is a great source of calcium which helps in the growth of muscles. It aids in boosting your immune system. According to a study mentioned in the International Journal of Obesity, greek yogurt is a great snack which helps in reducing belly fat by 80%. Greek yogurt has extra protein when compared to normal yogurt and has less sugar as well. In order to make your cup of yogurt healthier, add nuts, almonds or any seasonal fruit to it.
Almonds: Nutritional value of almonds: A cupped handful = 6 grams protein. These tiny sized pellets are rich in fats and protein, making them a perfect mid-day snack for a person on a hectic schedule. Their healthy fat content keeps you full longer and eating 7-10 almonds daily will give you the good fats in just the right doses. Nowadays, many built-in portion control cups are available in the supermarket which will help you keep a check on your almond intake.
Scrambled eggs: Eggs fulfill your amino acid requirement for the day and are one of the best natural sources of protein. Also full of vitamin B12, eggs helps in contracting muscles. People who suffer from high cholesterol can limit egg intake to one whole scrambled egg with two egg whites in a day, of course, after consulting a doctor. According to the American Heart Association's recommendation, one must aim to eat 200 mg of good cholesterol per day.
Roasted soy nuts: Nutritional value of roasted soy nuts: ¼ cup = 17 grams protein. Try the whole soy beans variety and bid goodbye to fatty snacks like cashews. However, if you want to go for something which has extra crunch in it, go for roasted edamame (which is something similar to roasted soy nuts). Please note that ¼ cup of roasted edamame equals to 14 grams of protein.
Energy bars: Nutritional value of an energy bar: 1 bar = 10 to 12 grams protein. Depends on your taste and your preferred variety - pack a few protein bars before you hit the office each day. Always go for energy bars which are less than 200 calories and read the nutritional label carefully to determine whether the energy bar is high in corn syrup or not. You can also opt to make your own protein bars at home.
Hummus: Here's a recipe for traditional hummus: Chickpea Cilantro Dip. Ingredients -1 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained, 1/4 cup plain yogurt, 1/2 cup chopped cilantro (fresh is best), 1 small garlic clove, chopped, 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon water, Salt to taste .
Method: Using your fingers, slip the skins off the chickpeas. Place in the mixer and puree. Add yogurt, cilantro, garlic, lemon juice and water and blend until smooth. Serve with fresh bell peppers, cucumber sticks and celery.
Chocolate milk: Chocolate milk is an excellent post-workout snack for those of you who aren't lactose intolerant. When we exercise, our bodies use stored glucose and if the workout is vigorous, this leads to a depleted condition. The post-workout phase is also the repair and rest stage for our muscles and body processes. Chocolate milk satisfies the needs quite well with it's sugar, calcium, protein and fat mix. Different snacks like smoothies, bananas and apples with honey and dry fruits/nuts are also good post-workout snacks. These are great to derive maximum results from your workouts.
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