Smart Snacking

Go ahead and eat between meals, just think healthy.

Dinner is hours away. Can you kill the hunger pains without filling up on empty calories?

A healthy snack is actually a good idea, said Yvonne Thigpen, a Registered Dietitian and manager of Integrated Health at McLaren Macomb.

“It can give you the energy you need, plus it can keep you from eating too much at dinner because you’re starved.”

In honor of National Nutrition Month®, McLaren Macomb wants to offer a few helpful ideas.

Sensible  healthy snacks:

Skip that candy bar and reach for a handful of almonds, some whole-grain pretzels, dried fruit or maybe a reduced-fat cheese stick.

How about half of a plain baked potato (reheated in the microwave) with a quick topping of salsa or plain yogurt and a little low-fat cheddar?

You may also want to keep some low-sodium deli turkey on hand to eat with a couple of whole-grain crackers or a whole-grain tortilla wrap.

Add a piece of fruit or a slice of avocado and you’ll feel energized for the rest of the day.

Here are some other sweet ideas from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:

• For dessert or an afternoon pick-up, try blending mango, plain low-fat milk, ice and a splash of pineapple juice.
• Stir chocolate syrup into a cup of coffee-flavored yogurt. Freeze it and enjoy.
• Enjoy a piece of dark chocolate with some fruit, such as strawberries or blueberries.

The key to better snacking is to plan ahead, reminds Yvonne Thigpen. This way you’ll be able to reach for snacks that will fuel you with protein, fiber and healthy carbohydrates, she said.

“It doesn’t have to be just a celery stick or a carrot,” she added. “If you get a little creative, you can have taste, and good nutrition too.”

If you’d like more information about working with a Registered Dietitian at McLaren Macomb, call (586) 493-8500.

Flexible weight loss

McLaren Macomb also offers its unique Weight Loss Management Program. It’s specially designed to fit the needs – and the schedules – of people with busy, hectic schedules.

For more information and upcoming class schedule visit mclaren.org/macombweightloss.