The Secret of Snacking

Is there a science to good snacking? It's more like a secret and one that's out in the open. Mostly everyone know what to snack on and what not to. Yet knowing what's tasty could help in creating a healthy and delicious experience. 

Health and fitness editor Anna Maltby gave a guide to good eating in today's New York Times Tuesday Science  section. Snacks can help in filling in nutritional gaps by adding such components, according to Emily Wilcox Geir,a dietician and associate professor in the Division of Nutritional Science at Cornell University. What exactly is a proper snack? It should be well rounded and satisfying It shoudl have at least two of the macronutruents protein, carbhydrates and fats. If the main component of a snack is sourdough toast , then top it with avocado , bean dip such as hummus or peanut butter.It's easy to create an olive oil rich avocado spread (add some spices to give ti a salsa vibe) and create a tasty hummus with either chickpeas or cannellini beans. Focus on making it delicious. Ms. Maltby suggests pairing salty with sweet and smooth and crunchy. Keep everything bagel topping handy along with berries, chia seeds and chives. for topping.

Another important question is how big should the snack be. Of course ti should be smaller than the everyday average meal. However it's not a one size fits all . Serving sizes depend on different factors, such as the time eaten between meals along with how physically active a person is. Also cater it to health needs and conditions. The recommended calorie range is wide from two hundred to four hundred calories. Maybe the best way to measure how much a person needs to snack is something called the hunger scale.It basically depends on how starved a person is. Seven is about the number to reach for; it's full but not uncomfortable. Keep in mind that a snack should keep anyone full until dinner. Don't over eat no matter how tasty it is. What exactly is a good snack?It can be a piece of fruit and some string cheese (or a more sophisticated version, apple or pear sllices with a good cheddar) or veggies dipped in hummus, preferably a homemade one. The New York Times has recipes for roasted chickpeas along with various yogurt based dips.Make something appealing  and special.

Good snacking is healthy snacking. It's also tasty snacking that's a great break from the day. Make one that's the perfect bute for an afternoon.