Slimming Snacks

It's July and summer is here to stay (unfortunately not forever)... keeping up with healthy eating in the summer can be difficult because of all the BBQ's, going out to dinner, beach days with beer, and more beer, and just the simple laziness summer offers.  Fortunately these flat belly friendly snacks are simple and will leave you feeling satisfied.
I always get the occasional "I don't get it all you do is eat all day long, how do you stay thin?"  And of course my mom calls me a "pack rat" because I'm always packing different snack in my bag.  Hey you never know when your going to be hungry....  These are a few snacks that I personally love.


1. Go nuts: 1/3 a cup of almonds or walnuts, 1/4 a cup of dried cranberry or raisins.  Enjoy and wash it down with a large ice cold glass of refreshing lemon water.

• Walnuts offer a significant amount of the omega-3 fat alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). ALA’s anti-inflammatory properties slow plaque buildup in the arteries that results when "bad" LDL cholesterol is oxidized. 
• A serving of almonds provide you with around 4-6 grams of protein, and contain a good source of the anti-oxidant vitamin E.  In addition they also provide, fiber, and calcium.  Almonds are a contain a healthy fat (mono-unsaturated fats), as well as omega-3 fatty acids

 As always, when it comes to nuts the key is moderation.

2.  Apple with honey and peanut butter: Cut an apple into 8 pieces, mix together one tablespoon of natural peanut butter and one teaspoon of honey; spread evenly on each slice.

•   Combining a carbohydrate (apple) and a protein (peanut butter) together will give you more sustained energy throughout the day as opposed to snacking on refined carbohydrates.   Because the apple contains soluble and insoluble fiber, it takes longer to digest, which helps keep your blood sugar stable and you full for longer. 

  3.  Edamame:  A  half-cup serving of shelled edamame (or 1 1/8 cup edamame in the pods):

• Edamame's a great source of low calorie protein, as well as a good source of antioxidants and isoflavones. The beans have lots of heart-healthy benefits as well.   Edamame is rich in vitamin C, calcium, iron and fiber.  

4. Avocado and tomato:  Half of a medium avocado sliced, and half of a medium tomato cut into small pieces.  Add one tablespoon of olive oil, and 1/2 tablespoon of red wine vinegar.  Salt pepper to taste. Enjoy!

• If I wrote about all the benefits of avocados, the list would be endless  Avocados are an excellent source of glutathione, an important antioxidant that researchers say is important in preventing aging, cancer, and heart disease. They are a good source of fiber, folate, and vitamin A, C and E. Avocados contain calcium and magnesium as well as copper, which is a trace mineral that’s needed in the formation of red blood cells, hemoglobin, collagen and elastin, and it is vital to proper wound recovery.

 5. Baby carrots and hummus: Aim for about 10-12 carrots and 2 tablespoons of hummus.

• Instead of reaching for salty chips, crackers or pretzels....The carrot crunch and yummy smooth hummus can satisfy that need while giving you more energy and filling fiber- not to mention way fewer calories than chips or pretzels.