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Monday, Sep 12th 2011
Midlife Minute: Caution, Snackers!
I read in the latest issue of Tufts Health & Nutrition Letter that snacks now account for a quarter of the average American's calorie intake. Do you know what this means? That essentially, snacks add up to a fourth meal.
How can it be? I, for one, believe in snacking. I'm rarely without food, since I fear getting so hungry that I feel weak, cranky and ravenous. So I snack a lot. And I think that snacking holds a place in helping to keep your energy up between meals.
But snacking has increased among Americans and a harmless (?) munch is reported to average about 580 calories each day, half of those calories coming from beverages that are consumed between meals. Snack time also is reported to have increased from 15 minutes a day to almost half an hour. I can think of times that snacking can easily get away from you and morph into an event: mindlessly eating in front of the TV; eating in the car; nibbling while preparing dinner; eating out of boredom.
Does this mean you have to cut out your snack time? I don't think so. But I do think it's good to know that all snacks are not created equal. It's good to heed the usual, sensible advice you've probably heard many times before:
- Measure and plate your food—don't eat straight from the bag.
- Beware of the new fad, frozen yogurt (especially the fill-your-own-cup kind) It's easy to overdo it with something that sounds so healthy. And those toppings like cookie crumbs and granola should be used in extreme moderation.
- Savor each mouthful. Take your time and chew your food thoroughly. If you eat too fast, soon enough you've forgotten that the food ever touched your lips.
Comments
Sep 17, 2011 08:Sep 8 | sarah henry said
I'd never really heard the
I'd never really heard the term snacking until I moved to the U.S. We had three meals, and maybe morning and afternoon tea, which is usually tea and a couple of cookies, max.
Doesn't surprise me to learn that snacking may be behind the obesity epidemic in this country.
Sep 14, 2011 10:Sep 10 | Susan said
Confession: I was actually
Confession: I was actually eating crackers straight out of the box as I read this. Oops! But you're right. I should be more mindful of how much I eat.
Sep 14, 2011 02:Sep 2 | Kris @ Attainable Sustainable said
I know a family who simply
I know a family who simply does not snack. They have three meals a day, that's it. It's so different from how my family operates (we take snacks and water with us whenever we head out!) but it seems to work for them. They're also all very skinny! ;)
Sep 13, 2011 15:Sep 3 | Sheryl said
Ha! You're so right, Ruth.
Ha! You're so right, Ruth. Maybe all of us who work at home need to set up a webcam so we can check on one another... (do you see me snacking right now?)
Sep 13, 2011 08:Sep 8 | nancymonson@earthlink.net said
Wow! Although I must say I am
Wow! Although I must say I am a proponent of eating every couple of hours to keep my blood sugar level, so snacking is a way of life for me. I just try to keep meals smaller, and do the portioning you talk about (whenever I eat straight from the bag, it's a disaster...I know better, yet I still eat too much).
Sep 13, 2011 05:Sep 5 | Living Large said
M&Ms have become my new snack
M&Ms have become my new snack time obsession. They are on a table within reach (as are many things in my house). I know I must quit. I do snack on almonds, too, which are at least good for me.
Sep 12, 2011 20:Sep 8 | Kristen said
Snacks are definitely my
Snacks are definitely my weakness. I found these snack cakes at Costco that have supposedly zero calories (gluten free too, they're with brown rice, flax seeds and such). When I'm desperate for chocolate (and I've already had my fill) I like to slather just a bit of Nutella on them and it satisfies my craving.
Sep 12, 2011 17:Sep 5 | NoPotCooking said
Sep 12, 2011 16:Sep 4 | Alexandra said
I have started replacing
I have started replacing snacks with organic carrots. They taste so sweet and are good for you.
Sep 12, 2011 14:Sep 2 | Melanie said
My darling man likes to have
My darling man likes to have cookies (known as biscuits around here) to go with his endless cups of tea. I'm good at not buying such things but not so good at not eating them once they are in the house. I've started getting him to keep them in the freezer out in the garage. I'm much likely to munch mindlessly on them if I have to go out there to get them!
Sep 12, 2011 13:Sep 1 | Jane Boursaw said
I'm guilty of so many of
I'm guilty of so many of these things, especially eating straight from the bag. And the frozen yogurt thing, too. I DO know better, but do I DO better? Not always.
Sep 12, 2011 13:Sep 1 | Merr said
It's all about being (or
It's all about being (or trying/having the intention of being) concious in our every move...food habits included!
