Snack Yourself Silly to Boost Your Metabolism

I'm an all or nothing kind of gal and this really isn't a great trait when it comes to trying to eat healthy. I often find myself having eaten breakfast around 8am, Lunch around 1 or 2 and then Dinner around 7. There are times that I don't snack much and this is a big NO-NO for several reasons. First, your metabolism is like an engine and if you don't oil it regularly it gets sorta ticked off and slows down. For best results, you should be eating something every 2-3 hours during the day to keep your metabolism happy. The second reason is that, by only eating three times a day, I tend to eat more and make different choices than I might if I were not absolutely famished by the time I slowed down enough to eat.

This is a dilemma for lots of moms, whether you stay at home or work in or out of the home, there is no denying that we mammas are a busy bunch. Taking time to feed our bodies small nutritious snacks helps fuel us both physically and emotionally. Chances are that at the very time of day when your toddler is throwing herself down in the middle of Whole Foods telling you she hates you, is most likely the same time of day that your own body and emotions are struggling stay stable. This state of being is partially due to the fact that your child has turned into a demon and partially because your body is running low on enough energy and strength to handle the situation!

I think there are periods of time in our lives when things go a little crazy and we lose our way. We take shortcuts or consciously go against what we know because it is easier. When this is the case we just need to reel ourselves in and make changes going forward. So, if you are not fueling yourself appropriately STOP and make a conscious decision to change this. Here are a list of five of my favorite healthy snacks that have a wee bit of protein for extra mileage.

1. Celery with peanut butter

2. Apple slices and a string cheese stick

3. Low fat yogurt (1/2 carton) with 1/4 cup of cottage cheese

4. Handful mixed nuts (I like the South Beach mix from Planters) and a piece of fruit

5. Turkey/Cheese roll (I just roll up slice of turkey and a slice of cheese ... so gourmet!)

What are some of your favorite healthy snacks?