FitSugar

Healthy Eating Tip: Snack For Nutritional Gaps

FitSugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:30:00 PDT

Eating between meals, has definitely gotten a bad rap, but snacking can be good for you. Many nutritionist think we should eat at least every four to five hours. So if you eat lunch at noon and dinner at 8:00, you're going to need a snack to make it through the long afternoon. I like to plan my snacks, just like I would my lunch, and I like to use them to fill nutritional gaps.

When I feel I am not getting enough daily calcium, I snack on cheese sticks or yogurt. The protein fills me up and calcium helps my bones. If I feel like I am lacking in iron, I munch on some edamame and some red pepper. The vitamin C in the red pepper helps my body absorb the iron in those baby soybeans. Make your snacks do double duty. Your body, especially your belly, will appreciate your effort.

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3 Reasons to Snack and How to Keep It Healthy

Leta Shy — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 01:56:31 PDT

Snacking is often seen as the opposite of healthy, but in fact, it can be a powerful tool in helping you stay on track. Whether you want to lose weight or just maintain, here are three reasons why you should snack, and how to do it healthfully.

Prevent overeating: Waiting until you're ravenous to eat is a recipe for disaster. Suddenly, everything starts looking good, and you don't want to wait to prep a healthier option. By eating a low-calorie snack that fills you up, it's easier to say no to overindulging, and not only that, snacking helps keep your metabolism revved up as well!
Ensure you're getting your nutrients: It can be hard to meet all your nutritional needs in just three meals a day. If you snack healthy with fresh foods, you'll be able to fill in any nutritional gaps you have from just eating meals. By making produce a priority when it's time to snack, you'll be well on your way to hitting that five-servings-a-day goal.
Keep your energy up: Snacking on the right combination of protein and complex carbs can beat an afternoon slump and help get you through the day. Snacking regulates your blood sugar to combat a drop in energy, which can be the difference between skipping an evening workout or powering through one before dinner. If you normally experience the afternoon slump, here are some healthy energy-boosting snack ideas.

Of course, the downside of snacking is that you risk eating way more calories than you need, often because you don't realize how many calories are really in that handful of chips. Need a snacking makeover? Read on for how to make snacking work for you.

One Fit Job: Personal Trainer

Susi May — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:14:26 PDT

During hard economic times, desk-bound fitness fanatics often start considering career switches to more active professions, like becoming a personal trainer. The job is considerably more vigorous than sitting in front of a computer day in and day out. To get the skinny on the daily dos of working as a trainer, I spoke with Equinox personal trainer Lauren Fairbanks, 26. She loves her job, colorful sneakers, and simple snacks.

FitSugar: So how long have you been working as a personal trainer?
Lauren Fairbanks: A little over three years, and it took me about nine months to ramp up my business enough to support myself financially.

FS: What form of training does this job require?
LF: Becoming a personal trainer usually requires getting certified by passing an exam created by a nationally recognized organization such as: National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), American Council of Exercise (ACE), among others. I chose to go to a school for personal training called the American Academy of Personal Training (AAPT) in NYC, because I wanted to get the classroom education as well as the hands-on practical experience (rather than just test prep) - so this was a great choice for me. I am certified through AAPT, as well as Equinox's in-house Equinox Fitness Training Institute (EFTI), and carry a bachelor's in Science with a major in Dietetics from Central Michigan University. I also have a certification in TRX, kettlebells, ViPr, and pre/postnatal fitness.

FS: Does your college degree help you now?
LF: Yes, this major absolutely helps me, as nutritional guidance is a huge part of physical fitness.

FS: Were you sporty in college?:
LF: Yes, I ran division I track and cross country all four years of college. I was a middle-distance runner (half mile and mile). I also love playing volleyball and basketball.

Lauren has more to say about her career, so keep on reading.

Exercise No Good For Weight Loss?

FitSugar — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:30:17 PDT

A couple of years ago the Cardio Free Diet introduced popular culture to the concept that exercise and weight loss were incompatible. Recently we learned that exercise doesn't boost fat-burning. Now Time magazine's new cover story investigates the seemingly detrimental relationship even further. A thumbnail sketch of the article: exercise makes you hungry, so you eat more and don't lose weight.

Should you give up the treadmill forever? Learn more.

The Pros and Cons of Snacking

FitSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 07:30:00 PDT

Snacking has endured a bad reputation for a very long time, but it seems to be coming back into vogue. There are pros and cons to the habit and one should never snack mindlessly, of course!

Here are some of the pros and cons to snacking.

The Pros

Snacking can fill nutritional gaps and boost your intake of fruits and veggies. This of course is only true if you are snacking on fresh fruits and veggies which I highly recommend. Peaches and cherry tomatoes are phenomenal this time of year and make tasty snacks.
Snacking can keep your mood on an even keel, when you feel like your blood sugar is sinking it is easy to feel "low,"
Snacks can help with appetite and weight control since they can prevent over indulgence at meals.
Snacking, spreading meals and calories, might require less insulin and might reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The Cons

The danger in snacking is that it can add extra calories to your day. By unconsciously adding 100 calories per day beyond the calories you burn can make you gain 10 pounds in a year.
Snacking should mirror your over all diet philosophy of moderation (yep, my favorite concept).
If you find yourself too hungry, when you are reaching for a snack, you might end up reaching for something loaded with calories. So plan your snacks ahead of time.

Looking for a healthy snack? Check out all these ideas for your next snack attack.