Snacking Strategies for the Holidays… and Always.
Tis the season for snacking…
Whether or not Covid has thrown a wrench in your holiday plans, this is the time of year when snacks (or hors d’oeuvres, depending on how you do holidays at your house) play a starring role. Even if your holiday celebrations end up being more intimate this year than last, it’s a pretty good bet that you’ll be grazing your way through at least a few days – if not the whole month - of December.
And that’s just fine! Snacking does not have to be your downfall, and it does not have to mark the end of all the gains you’ve made in your health over the last eleven months.
Here’s the deal – snacks can be a great way to bridge the gap between meals, to give you a little boost of energy when you’re starting to drag, to calm a craving, or even to soothe your soul. But choosing wisely here makes all the difference – between tiding you over ‘till dinner or doing a deep clean of the pantry.
The right choice may not be what you think, and in fact it is different for each one of us. Consider this: some “good” snacks taste great and check all the boxes when it comes to nutrition – low fat, low calories, high protein (or whatever macro you are tracking) – but they open the door to heightened cravings and a total loss of control. They are gateway snacks – they pave the way to overindulgence every time. Then there are snacks that may be higher in fat and calories, but they leave you satisfied with a reasonable serving. One example is trail mix or mixed nuts - for some people that is a super healthy and satisfying way to get a little sweet and a little salty in to bridge that 2pm slump. For me, it is a sure-fire way to finish the whole bag, plus whatever else I can find in the next three hours. But if I eat hummus or nut butter with an apple or celery sticks instead, I feel great. It’s still protein + fat + carbs, but one feels totally different than the other. One leaves me hungrier than I was when I started, and one leaves me not hungry but also not full – that perfect in-between where I can stop thinking about food and go about my day.
The trick is to pay attention to how different snacks make you feel – when you eat them, an hour later, the next day. Only then will you know for sure the right snacks for YOU. And once you’ve got that part down, it is much easier to pass up the trays full of the foods that drag you down, and opt instead for the ones that will keep you going and make you feel good.
You don’t have to deny yourself delicious food during the holidays or feel awkward and empty-handed while everyone around you is celebrating. It’s all about making smart choices that work for your body and lifestyle – and hey, if that means sneaking in a cupcake here and there, that’s okay too! Progress, not perfection, is the goal.
If you want some yummy snack ideas to try this holiday season, here is a selection of some of my favorites from the interwebs:
https://www.diannesvegankitchen.com/smoked-almond-cheddar-cheese-nuts/
https://www.vnutritionandwellness.com/christmas-pinwheels/
https://simpleveganblog.com/20-vegan-christmas-appetizers/
Do you have a favorite go-to for snacking? I’d love to hear from you!