Morning Snacks If...
You had no time for breakfast
If I ever do leave home with only a cup of tea to keep me going, by 10am I’m ravenous. Good choices include a large skimmed milk cappuccino or latte or my preference, a large skimmed hot milk along with a big fruit salad and yoghurt. Although milk is a ‘drink’, its protein content makes it quite filling and along with the fibre from the fruit, this combination sees me through until lunchtime.
Had an early start
If breakfast was at 7am, you are likely to be peckish by 10.30 – 11.00am. A great choice at this time is a handful of almonds. Research shows that they help to stave off hunger, probably because of their combination of protein in the nut and fibre in the brown skin and that using them to replace normal snacks helps with weight control. In fact, some of the calories from the fat in almonds is not actually digested because of the fibre in the skin, which means that although a 30g handful has 183 calories, up to 27 of these are not absorbed.
You NEED chocolate
Acknowledging a chocolate craving and satisfying it with something small can be better than ignoring the urge only to have a big binge later in the day. A few squares of dark chocolate could be ideal because scientists have shown that because dark chocolate takes longer to digest than milk versions, it helps to keep us feeling fuller for longer and to eat up to 18 per cent fewer calories at our next meal. A portion controlled bar 35g bar is ideal. If only milk chocolate will do, personally I think a two finger Kit Kat is a good choice with just 107 calories.
You are stressed
Hormones released when we are stressed often trigger hunger and the need to grab a snack. If this sounds familiar, go for a really crunchy apple or some celery and carrot sticks. All make a satisfying crunchy noise when you bite into them which psychologists say help us to relax and calm down a bit.