It’s 4 o'clock and your co-workers are busy typing away at their computers. You have work to do but your mind is distracted. This new diet is testing your self-control beyond anything. You can hear your stomach grumbling and a snack right now would be perfect, but you can see the words ‘No Snacking While Dieting’ flashing before your eyes. The brochure was clear enough. After half an hour, your hunger reaches its peak and before you know it you’ve ordered a mini meal from one of the food apps and are hogging it down. The diet is all forgotten and maybe you can try again next year!
Dieting doesn't need to be like this. It is a myth that you cannot snack while dieting. In fact, your dietitian will tell you to have nutritious snacks handy when you get the munchies. Dieting is about self-control but it is also about giving your body what it needs in balanced amounts. When you snack on healthy things while on a diet, you feel satiated. When you sit down to have full meals, you’re not starved and hence do not end up overeating. A healthy lifestyle is not where you feel hungry all the time. A healthy lifestyle is a balance of good food, exercise, and mental peace.
Here are a few snacks that you can eat while dieting:
- Fresh fruit: Fruits are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fibre. Apples, berries, oranges, and bananas are easy to carry and make great snacks on the go. They make a great healthy snack for when you’re dieting and even when you’re
- Raw vegetables: Raw veggies, such as carrots, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and bell peppers, are low in calories and high in fibre, making them a healthy snack option. They can be eaten plain or with a low-fat dip. Veggies make for a flavorful snack and you can add herbs to them for that extra taste.
- Nuts: Nuts, such as almonds, walnuts, cashews, pistachios, hazelnuts, etc are a good source of protein and healthy fats. However, they are also high in calories, so it's best to portion them out in small amounts. Eating about 1/4th cup of mixed nuts every day makes for a healthy snack. They’re easy to carry and can be eaten on the go.
- Yogurt: Yogurt is a great source of protein, calcium, and probiotics, making it a healthy snack option. Choose plain, non-fat yogurt and add fresh fruit for flavour and added nutrients.
- Seeds: Healthy seeds like chia seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds are a great source of minerals, proteins, and fibres. You can make a mix of your favourite seeds and carry it for when you feel snacky. Seeds are also a great way to garnish your salads or give a crunchy texture to your smoothies!
- No BS Snacks: The OG snack, nutrient-rich makhana is now available in the Himalayan pink salt and cheddar cheese flavours, thanks to No BS snacks. Other types available in these healthy snacks are the roasted ragi, roasted multigrains and the moon jor. You can eat them at any time and easily carry them around. They’re perfect to go along with your diet regimes as they’re made from great, low-calorie ingredients.
Dieting doesn’t have to be very restrictive. You’re allowed to snack while dieting as long as you monitor what you eat and how much you eat. Just because you’re dieting, you don’t have to put off the smaller pleasures of life, like snacking! So munch on, No BS healthy snacks are here for you ;)