Smart Snacking

Snacks play a very important role in our diet.  Whether they keep us from overeating before the next meal or party, or help fuel our bodies prior to or after an athletic event, it's smart to choose a snack with at least some nutritional value.But what's the best snack to grab? Keep reading to find out:Bite this

1. Light cheese sticks.  While cheese gets a bad rap for being high in fat, light cheese is a great option.  It's portable, contains 20% of the daily value for calcium and can be paired with fresh fruit or eaten solo.  Go for cheese that's 4 grams or fat or less per serving.
2. Nuts.  These crunchy nuggets are more satisfying than chips or pretzels and offer a hefty dose of mono-unsaturated fat- the type that's great for your heart.  Go for lightly salted for good taste without the extra sodium and limit your serving to about ¼ cup.
3. Light popcorn.  There are several varieties of individual servings of  popcorn available.  Light popcorn contains about 100 calories, but lots of appetite squelching fiber.
4. Raw veggies + hummus.  If you're sick of baby carrots and celery, try raw green beans, fresh asparagus or pepper strips.  Paired with hummus, you've got something crunchy that will fill you up and keep your waistline trim.
5. Cereal and milk.  Cereal is not just for breakfast.  Have some multi-grain Cheerios or frosted mini wheats for a snack in place of your usual sweet treat.

Not that

1. Smoothies.  While smoothies are usually made with yogurt and fruit, the calories are more like a meal than a snack.  I recommend them for weight gain.
2. Pretzels.  We realize pretzels are virtually fat-free, but they're also not very nutrient-dense.  Most are made with white flour, which gets digested quickly and isn't very filling.  They're also high in sodium.
3. Granola bars.  Granola bars have been around for years.  What most people don't realize is that they are cookies in disguise.   Don't be fooled by the wholesome looking package.  Most are high in sugar and contain saturated or trans fat.
4. Bagels.   That hole in the middle does not mean these are lower in calories.  Most bakery style bagels have at least 250 calories, not counting the cream cheese.  Go for the mini whole wheat bagels with light cream cheese if you must indulge now and then.

Crackers.  Unless you're buying whole wheat/whole grain types, crackers typically contain trans fat, sodium, white flour and a host of chemicals we're not quite sure about.  Go for whole grain crackers when possible and skip the cheese-flavored types with yellow dye and the like.