We all know that calories count. It doesn’t matter what else you’re doing, unless you can end up in a caloric deficit at the end of the day, you will struggle to lose weight.
That’s why your choice of between meals is so important. Make the right choices and you’ll be fuelling your body for performance while keeping your caloric intake in check. But get it wrong and you are likely to blow any of progress you’ve made from your workouts and clean eating on your main meals.
In this article, we present 5 of the smartest, tastiest between meal snacks that will enhance rather than sabotage your fat loss goals.
#1 Snack: Hard Boiled Eggs
Protein is the most important fat fighting macronutrient. Not only does it fuel your muscles to build lean muscle tissue, it also has a powerful appetite suppressant effect. Plus, protein is the most thermogenic macro, meaning that it takes more calories to digest than carbs or fats.
Eggs are quite simply the best form of protein that exists for humans. Having an in-between meal hard boiled egg will provide you with about 6 grams of protein along with plenty of healthy fats.
#2 Snack: Nuts
Nuts are a great source of healthy fats. They’re also packed with protein. A handful of nuts will fill you up while also delivering the nutrients you need to be at your best. These include polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats that provide brain boosting and cardiovascular benefits. Nuts provide a slow release of energy which provides you with a constant fuel source. Nuts are also a fantastic source of fibre.
The handiness of snacks makes them a very convenient snack. You simply grab a handful and chow down. The best choices for weight loss conscious people are walnuts, almonds, pine nuts and chestnuts.
#3 Snack: Peanut Butter on Apple Slices
Switching from the classic peanut butter and jelly to peanut butter and apple slices is a smart move for anyone who is working to get their weight down. Apples are packed with fiber, along with polyphenol antioxidants. Peanut butter is a very good plant source of protein along with other nutrients that have been shown to be heart healthy.
Just be aware that peanut butter is relatively high in calories, so don’t smear too much of it on that apple slice.
#4 Snack: Chia Pudding
Chia seeds are a fantastic source of fiber and antioxidants, along with protein and healthy fats. Combine them with water, peanut butter, and coca powder to make a tasty pudding that is low in calories (under 200 calories per sere) and high extremely nutrient rich.
#5 Snack: Protein Shake
A protein shake provides you with a delicious way to satisfy your hunger while delivering fast acting amino acids to help regenerate your body’s lean muscle tissue. A number of studies have shown that supplementing with a protein shake can help to lose weight, enhance body composition and increase lean muscle at the same time. Whey protein is the preferred protein source for shakes because it is most absorbed and the fastest acting. Throw in some fruit for extra taste, nutrients and fiber.
Conclusion
As mentioned already, protein is the key to controlling snacking. Be sure to provide yourself with a quality lean protein at each of your three main meals and you will minimise the urge to snack in the first place. When you do feel that urge, have any one of our 5 best snacks within reach and you’ll be complementing, rather than jeopardising, your weight loss goals.