Take Control of Your Cravings: 7 Tips to Snacking SMARTER!

Can't make it through the day on just three meals? You're not alone: most of us feel the temptation mid-morning or mid-afternoon, when we're burning through the energy from our last meal and craving a pick-me-up to keep ourselves feuled till the next one.

But there's a right way to do it, and there's a wrong way to do it, and knowing the difference could save you from obliterating your diet goals, or simply just loading up your body with unnecessary calories.

Here are some tips on how to approach your snacktime in a healthy and guilt-free way:

1. Use portion control.
The biggest mistake you can make with snacking is to give yourself free reign of the fridge. Instead of opening up a bag of trail mix and eating out of it until you realize you've nearly finished it, put a reasonably sized portion on a napkin or plate and put away the bag. You'll find that finishing the entire serving will leave you feeling much more replenished than eating the same amount straight from the bag.

2. Keep snacks out-of-sight.
If food is sitting right within your eyeline, it's just begging to be eaten. That temptation is the last thing you need! When food is less convenient, you won't think about it as much, so you won't feel hungry until your body actually lets you know it needs food.

3. Eat regular, balanced meals during the day.
Believe it or not, if you eat properly during your mealtimes, you may find that your snacking cravings disappear, or at least diminish significantly. Take care that you're getting all the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs in your main portions before deciding what extra energy it might need in between.

4. Listen to your body.
If your stomach is starting to rumble, your body is telling you it's time for a top-up. By ignoring these signs when they start coming on, you're only increasing the likelihood that you'll cave later on – and you may not have as much self-control when that moment arrives. A light snack when your body asks is much safer than a potential binge later!

5. When you think you're hungry...reconsider.
Our body always knows what it needs, but our brain can be a bit more manipulative... The next time you think you're feeling hungry or you're really craving something in particular, take a moment to ask yourself if it's really your hunger talking, or if you're just in the mood to eat. If it's the latter, turn your focus on something else and the temptation will pass.

6. Don't multi-task.
Especially if you don't portion out a single serving before you get snacking, it can be very dangerous to eat while you're busily focused elsewhere. Make sure you pay attention to the pace you're eating, how thoroughly you chew your food, and all of its flavors. The more you savor your food, the more satisfied you'll feel once it's gone.

7. Branch out.
Eating the same food every single day gets boring, and after a while it can stop being as effective in quashing your snackish needs. Instead, be creative with your snacks. Make each one a new tasty adventure, and try to pack them full of healthy ingredients that will keep you full longer (that means no chips or cookies!). Fruits, nuts, and vegetables may not be instinctively what we want, but they'll do the trick much more efficiently than junk food – and they can still taste amazing!

Need proof? Try these 10 totally guilt-free snack recipes next time the need strikes, or bulk up your sack lunch with one of these 10 DIY snack bars that are easy to take with you anywhere!

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