Snacks That Burn Fat

For most people, eating 3 square meals a day just isn't enough; we're always opening up the fridge to grab something, or heading over to our co-workers desk to stuff our hand into that bowl of candy that never seems to empty. Whether you want the most out of your workout, or just want to avoid the mid-afternoon slump, choosing the right snacks can have a big effect on your energy levels throughout the day, as well as the size of your waistline.

Craving Salty Snacks
When you want something salty, what's the number one thing that comes to mind? That's right, that delectable bag of potato chips; it gives a salty, satisfying crunch and it's so easy to grab a bag off the shelf and open it up when you're in a hurry. It's easy to plow through a bag of chips and not even know where the time went, and with the fat content being extremely high, these can quickly help pack on the pounds. These days, there are healthy alternatives such as vegetable crisps, which are very similar to potato chips; you can pop open a bag without feeling the guilt due to its lower fat and calorie content. Another alternative is a diet staple: the rice cake. These can now be had in a mini form with many different kinds of flavors to choose from, and while they sometimes get a bad rap for being burned as quick energy, rice cakes are much lower in calories and fat than potato chips. Pair them with a protein like peanut butter to help give a more steady energy stream.

Craving Sweet Snacks.
One of the quickest ways to put on the pounds is by not controlling your sweet tooth. It's so quick and convenient to grab a chocolate bar, a bag of candy, or even a soft drink to satisfy that craving for something sweet. However, this will send your energy levels crashing and your body will store these calories as fat.
Instead of purchasing a candy bar, unwrap a health food bar; these come in a variety of ingredient combinations from high protein bars to bars filled with nuts and cereals and natural sweeteners. While they may have the same caloric content as a candy bar, they do not include the excessive amounts of refined sugar. Health food bars are a great way to sustain your energy levels, get essential vitamins and nutrients, and keep your body primed for fat loss.

Making A Switch
Another way to avoid large intakes of sugar is to choose dried fruit over processed sweets. The concentrated, natural fruit sugars make many dried fruit as sweet as commercial candy but provide many more benefits including fiber and minerals. You can also cut out soda pop by having some chocolate milk instead; the calcium and protein will keep your metabolic rate up and it has a good ratio of protein to carbs which will give you sustained energy.

There are many healthy snacks that are just as easy to prepare and eat as there are high calorie, high fat, and traditional snacks. Keep some dried fruit and rice cakes in your cupboard and make sure to have a bit of protein with them. Switching to healthy snacks could save you many pounds, and many hours on the treadmill.

We are all creatures of habit. How well do I know after weighing as much as 292 pounds and out of breath with every step. It was easy for me to fill up on chocolate cake and ice cream instead eating the healthy meals mother taught growing up. Today I am still a diabetic, but it is not necessary to continue taking glyburide-metformin to control my blood sugars. For more information log onto http://easyhealthymealplansforweightloss.com/
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