When the clock strikes 3pm, do you feel tired and hungry? Do you reach for sugary and salty snacks for a pick me up? If so, you might want to try a healthier alternative.
Chocolate…
Swap a chocolate bar for chocolate dairy food. Dairy food is lower in saturated fat, energy and sugar than chocolate, plus it is higher in calcium which is great for your bones. You could also try having a glass of Milo mixed with low fat milk to curb your chocolate craving and hunger.
Energy boost
If your feeling tired and haven’t eaten all day, perhaps you could try eating something! Because chances are you are feeling fatigued because your blood sugar levels are too low. If you have eaten, and you need a pick me up instead of reaching for a V or Red Bull go for herbal tea or an apple. Most tea contains caffeine, but tea is lower in teeth attacking acid and sugar than energy drinks. Alternatively, eat an apple – these crunchy delights wake you up just as much as coffee.
Sugar fix
Exchange your lollies for grapes, strawberries or dried fruit. Lollies are full of sugar and empty calories. Dried fruit can be high in sugar, but at least they contain more vitamins and minerals than lollies. Dried fruit is a source of iron. If you prefer fresh fruit to the dried variety, try eating grapes or strawberries they’re sweet but lower in sugar than lollies and they are a good source of vitamin C.
Salt surge
Instead of eating crisps, go for rice crackers and hummus, roasted chickpeas, or dried wasabi peas. Rice crackers dipped in hummus are not only tasty, but lower in salt and fat than crisps. Rice crackers with hummus are also more filling than chips because of the protein content of hummus and they are also higher in essential nutrients like calcium and iron. Try dried wasabi peas or roasted chickpeas, they’re lower in fat and energy than chips and higher in protein.
Go for homemade goodies
Have homemade apple and raisin bran muffins or a Weight Watchers cereal bar instead of cake and biscuits. Depending on the recipe and size of your home made muffins, they can be lower in energy as well as sugar and fat than regular store bought cakes and biscuits. Pick a recipe which uses whole meal flour and vegetable oil or margarine and plenty of fruit. Weight Watchers bars are another fantastic alternative to cake and biscuits. They’re full of flavour and lower in fat and sugar.
Chocolate…
Because chances are you are feeling fatigued because your blood sugar levels are too low. If you have eaten, and you need a pick me up instead of reaching for a V or Red Bull go for herbal tea or an apple. Most tea contains caffeine, but tea is lower in teeth attacking acid and sugar than energy drinks. Alternatively, eat an apple – these crunchy delights wake you up just as much as coffee.
Lollies are full of sugar and empty calories. Dried fruit can be high in sugar, but at least they contain more vitamins and minerals than lollies. Dried fruit is a source of iron. If you prefer fresh fruit to the dried variety, try eating grapes or strawberries they’re sweet but lower in sugar than lollies and they are a good source of vitamin C.
dipped in hummus are not only tasty, but lower in salt and fat than crisps. Rice crackers with hummus are also more filling than chips because of the protein content of hummus and they are also higher in essential nutrients like calcium and iron. Try dried wasabi peas or roasted chickpeas, they’re lower in fat and energy than chips and higher in protein.
on the recipe and size of your home made muffins, they can be lower in energy as well as sugar and fat than regular store bought cakes and biscuits. Pick a recipe which uses whole meal flour and vegetable oil or margarine and plenty of fruit. Weight Watchers bars are another fantastic alternative to cake and biscuits. They’re full of flavour and lower in fat and sugar.(534).jpg){kind=small}