Snacking

[6kr]

I am looking for good healthy snacking ideas. Being an ex smoker I tend to snack under stress. Help!!!!! 

[Umoya]

Snacks are your biggest downfall! Rather focus on drinking water when the craving hits, even chewing gum. Don't let food become the replacement for cigarettes as that will be very hard to break. It doesn't matter how healthy something is, if you eat too much excess will be stored. You can have lemon in your water, a great vit c source.

[chelseacate]

Make sure your snack contains protein - houmous with carrot/celery sticks or a couple of oatcakes, small piece of cheese and an apple, small handful of unsalted nuts (almonds, cashews etc), small pot of natural (unsweetened) yoghurt with a handful of berries etc.  Make sure you're drinking enough water and try not to graze all day (easier said than done...)

[MagicMike]

I love Sargento Reduced Fat Sharp Chedder Cheese Sticks.   I also love Sunmaid Yogurt covered raisins.

[tallson]

I too was a smoker.  So I know what you are talking about.  Snacks are good for you mentally, physically and spiritually.  We have to balance any compulsive tendencies by being always mindful of your final goal.  You want to stay away from carbs, they make us fat.  Replace them with cheeses, mixed nuts and nut butters...just to curb your appetite. Best of luck

[Ashley418]

Veggies!!!!!!

[LCHFmom]

I am also an ex - smoker -- and hence the need to lose weight.  

So, I have hear that you never eat a " carb" without eating a "protein" with it. 

Here are some snack ideas:

Snack Ideas:

Fruit or veggie with a nut butter ( ex:apple and peanut butter) 

Jerky and cheese stick

Veggies and hummus

Veggies and ranch dip ( either greek yogurt based or sour cream, depending on your diet plan)

1 small handful of nuts

fruit and cool whip 

1/2 cup yogurt with granola and fruit

cottage cheese 

[Jayboy]

I am also an EXsmoker who kicked the habit 46 months ago, and gained 25 Lbs. real quick!

I have since lost it all with clean Paleo eating and walking. I snack on nuts, seeds, string cheese, veggies and fruit. I love making fruit smoothies in my Health Master!

Good luck... weight loss has been harder than quitting the cigaretts!

Jay  (o:

[SunsetRunner]

Granola is to yogurt as sprinkles are to ice cream! But much healthier. Love it!

[clents]

Baked kale chips!  You just tear (or cut) the leafy part of the kale from the thick stem in the middle, toss with a tiny bit of olive oil and salt, and bake for about 10 minutes at 350.  They come out crispy and delicious and you can bag them and bring them to work--just be sure not to crush them.  They are seriously delicious and good for you.  I can easily eat a whole head of kale in chip form!

[LCHFmom]

Oh, I was just introduced to kale chips by my brother-in-law over the holidays .... OMG! 

I also added garlic to mine.   MAN! they are addictive! 

For those interested, nutritiional info below.   If you are a low-carber -- may want to watch how much you consume. 

2 cups cooked : ( two handfuls)

Cals: 64

Carbs: 13 

Fat :1 

Protein: 4

[rotero]

Try Celery with Laughng cow wedges. Celery barely has any calories and the Laughing Cow Cheese wedges are only 35 calories. You get the crunch sometimes you need.

[scoobie57]

not and ex smoker but I snack on fruits and veggies. Filling to the extent they will keep you from eating other things that will add weight.  Apples, carrots, celery. 

[Dawn71]

I love them too but how do you get them to crunch up and not burn?  I'm having the same trouble with apple chips.

[ModernKnight87]

Banana chips (Just put some banana slices on a cooking sheet and put in the oven on low/very low for an hour and a half, you can even add some lemon juice if you wanted to)

also I tend to eat celery sticks with peanut butter in the middle, all taste great.

When I am traveling to Seattle (as I do monthly for the military), I snack on trail mix that has peanut butter chips in it. I feel they're all great for snacking, as long as you watch yourself and snack in moderation. As stated already, too much of a good thing can be bad.

Edit: I noticed you said you snack when you stress...I tend to have a lot of stressors in my life as well, working two jobs, doing an internship, and going to school, so I find if I start stressing just getting up and walking around for a while helps as well...Clear the mind a little bit and sometimes the stress and even want to eat disappears.

[LCHFmom]

To bake the Kale, I put my oven at 350.  I also lay all my pieces  so they do not touch.  I bake for about 12-15 mins.  Sometimes  few pieces start to turn brown, and if they get too far done, I start to pull a few early.   Hope that helps!                                                                                                                                                                                          

[HarleyQuinn]

Pampered Chef actually makes a microwave chip maker that you can use for all kinds of things. Potatos, sweet potatos, kale, apples, bananas.... no oil added. It works great! I had it sitting in my cabinet for almost a year before I finally broke down and used t the other night. I'm kicking my booty for putting it off! (Promise, I don't sell Pampered Chef.)

Another thing I use is Turkey Slim Jim typre things and a light string cheese. I feel like I'm cheating but it's under a hundred calories. Smart pop popcorn for crunching. Celery with PB2. Almonds. I quit smoking 5 years ago and BALLOONED up. I'm trying to lose that weight.

[LCHFmom]

Hmmm....... chip maker sounds awesome for kale chips!  Can I add oil? I need it for the fats. 

Hey - from one ex-smoker to another; CONGRATULATIONS! 

[Hawks_mom]

almonds (unsalted) are only 6 calories each.  I eat 10 everyday.  Pickles.  I love the snack 'em size.  They are zero calories but watch the sodium.  Plus the vinegar will cut your sweets cravings, if you have any. 

[Mczoo59]

For scheduled snacks I enjoy fresh veggies and a triangle of laughing cow cheese (light).  For those need to feed snacks I keep a pre-measured bag of pretzel sticks on hand.  I measure out 50g into a small baggie and when the urge hits me I munch away on those until they are gone.