We live in a society of bites. Gone are the traditional three square meals a day.
Today, people eat at their desks, have a snack in the afternoon, and eat treats in the evening. Most, if not all, of these snacks are carbohydrate-based and packed with sugar.
This poses a challenge for people trying to follow the Atkins plan. Snacking is a necessary part of keeping your blood sugar high, but most packaged snacks are banned from the plan.
Sweet snacks are high in calories, full of empty carbohydrates, and offer no nutritional value.
But they sure are popular. Actually, there is a Snack Association that tracks packaged snack sales.
It is estimated that Americans consume 3.1 billion pounds of chocolate. Snacks have increased by more than a third since 1988. Snack sales exceed $ 30 billion a year.
If you've been a snacking addict, you've gotten used to eating carbs of the worst kind.
The snacks are made from highly refined carbohydrates like white flour, white sugar, cornmeal, and corn syrup. They are high in trans fats (which contribute to clogged arteries).
All in all, they are probably one of the worst food choices you could be making.
But there is hope! You can win your love of snacking by choosing Atkins-friendly snacks. Before you can make the change, be sure to educate yourself.
Understand how dangerous trans fats can be by reading about them. Then read the ingredient label on your favorite snacks. You might be surprised to find out how much trans fat, artificial flavoring, and preservatives you're eating.
Next, remove all the snacks from your house. If it's not there, then you can't eat it.
Junk food is not good for anyone in your household, so ignore your family's complaints and do your best for everyone's health.
Now you must replace those snacks with better options.
Giving up snacks is not the same as giving up snacks. Snacks should be part of your daily meal plan because they will help you not be too hungry and enjoy high-carb treats.
There are many low-carb snacks that are easy to make and easy to have around the house. String cheese sticks or small cheese rounds are very easy to store in the refrigerator.
Meat sandwiches are also a good option. You can buy jerky strips and other meat products that keep well for long periods of time. When shopping for cheese or meat sticks, be sure to read labels carefully for hidden carbs.
There are low carb instant soups available that are very easy to make and satisfying if you are in the mood for something spicy.
Low carb soy chips and celery can help with "crunchy" cravings. Try adding peanut butter or cream cheese spread to add more protein to these snacks. Plus, you can't beat a handful of nuts for a quick, high-protein snack.
All of the snacks mentioned above are good for the initial phases of the Atkins diet and beyond.
If you have passed the induction phase, you can enjoy red berries with cream as a snack. There are also many acceptable fruits that make good pre-maintenance snacks.
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