Healthier snacking

When it comes to keeping your energy levels up and staying on track for maintaining a healthy weight, afternoon snacking is key. Sarah Coulson, a registered dietitian and nutrition consultant with Nosh Nutrition in Toronto, recommends never going for more than four hours without eating in order to keep blood sugar levels up and hunger satiated, which will in turn help you avoid overeating at meal times.

“When it comes to snacking, we’re like water,” Coulson says. “We choose the path of least resistance.” That explains why it’s so easy to turn to a snack from the vending machine, or a fat-laden muffin from the nearest coffee shop, if we aren’t prepared when our afternoon hunger hits. The solution? Make the path of least resistance a healthy one. These  make-ahead snacks will help keep you on track.