Tag Archives: snacking

Peanut butter and fruit

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I read an article recently that championed eating peanut butter with fruit. I love apples and I love peanut butter so it sounded like a great idea. The combo is said to offer a good balance of protein, fat and fiber. A tablespoon of peanut butter with an apple offers a healthy alternative to snacking.

I also carry a small container of peanut butter and a teaspoon with me in my sack lunch. I eat a spoonful of it with my banana on my morning coffee break at work. The carbs in the banana boost your energy level (as does the coffee) and the protein in the peanut butter is said to prolong the effects of the energy boost. Bon appetit!

An oatmeal snack?

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In an earlier post, I stated I was trying not to snack After 6 P.M. I feel as though I should preface that statement by saying I can eat supper as early as 3:30 in the afternoon. Yes, I’m an older person but I also eat breakfast before 5:00 in the morning so I can make it to work before 5:45 A.M.

So, as the 6:00 p.m. hour nears I begin bargaining with myself as to what would make an honorable (for the lack of a better word) snack given my commitment to controlling my weight. I’ve had reasonable success with food that warms my stomach such as a Homemade applesauce snack.

Another favorite of mine is making a bowl of one minute oatmeal. The trick here is to control what you’re going to add to the oatmeal to flavor it. My wife reminds me brown sugar or maple flavored syrup are things on the naughty list. So I avoid these. Instead, I opt for fresh fruit such as strawberries, blueberries or apples. Dried fruit such as raisins or apricots also works. Add a few nuts for a protein crunch. Soften the consistency of the oatmeal with a splash of fat free or 2% milk.

Abstaining from late night holiday snacks

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Here is a suggestion anyone attempting to eliminate snacks from your diet after 6 p.m. on the days leading up to the Christmas holiday. One common decoration found in many homes is a nativity set featuring Joseph, Mary, the baby Jesus lying in a manger, and a host of other figures that were drawn to the place of our Savior’s birth. Instead of grabbing a handful of Christmas cookies and washing them down with a glass of eggnog, why not abstain from munching and add a figurine to the manger scene each day instead. As you are adding the figurine, reflect on something you are thankful for. Perhaps you will feel inspired to pray for someone also.

For those who do not consider themselves people of faith, you could substitute adding an ornament to your Christmas tree. Make a deliberate ritual out of it. While you’re adding the ornament, could set your mind to recall a song such as The twelve days of Christmas and add an ornament each day while reflecting on family or friends. Additionally, you can try to come up with a good deed you could do for someone else in keeping with the spirit of giving.

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:5

Homemade applesauce snack

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I mentioned in a previous post I was trying not to eat after 6:00 p.m. This goal was to help me manage my weight and ward off late night binging. When the 6:00 hour draws near or slips by me without noticing, I try to look for healthy snacks to minimize the damage. This led me to a new discovery

I like crispy apples…a lot. However, there are times when I accumulate a backlog of them because I either buy too many or the ones I did buy are a little mushy and therefore less desirable. Recently, I came up with a solution to use up those less desirable apples.

I wash and cut two old apples in half and remove the stems and seeds. I put the four clean halves into a microwave safe bowl and add about 1/4 cup of water. I cover the bowl and microwave it for 4-6 minutes. The heated apples turn to sauce. The sauce is extremely hot so I carefully use a fork to retrieve the skins out of the bowl and stir. I suppose you could drizzle some honey and nuts on your applesauce to give it some added sweetness and texture.

There is nothing like a hot snack to satisfy a craving. This also serves to use up unwanted apples.

After 6 P.M.

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It’s Thanksgiving weekend and in a few short weeks winter will be upon us. Memories of exercising in the raw December winds with a cold rain or snow bearing down on me is enough can kill my motivation to go outside for a walk. Additionally, shortened daylight hours give me the impression it’s later in the day than it really is. I am amazed at how easily I can talk myself into stretching out on the couch to surf the web on my computer.

One thing I’m doing to counter those failed attempts at physical activity during the winter months is ending my eating/snacking before 6 p.m. Doing this not only helps me control my weight, it also helps me sleep better. If I do end up going outside for a walk I get a double benefit.

Happy Thanksgiving!