June
The
world belongs to those with the most energy.
-Alexis de
Tocqueville
Snack Attack
There’s no denying that everyone, at
one time or another, has had a snack attack. Views on snacking differ. Some
feel that snacking is bad and that eating between meals leads to weight gain.
Others believe that eating many small meals and snacks throughout the day is
healthy for maintaining energy levels and optimal weight. If there were one way
of snacking that was right for everyone, we would all be doing it!
To alleviate snack attack guilt, try to
understand why you are snacking and what snacks work best for your body.
Perhaps you snack because your daily diet is missing nutrition, or because you
are eating too little at meals. You might be snacking to soothe jangled nerves
when you are emotional, or to entertain yourself when you are bored. Whatever
your reason, acknowledge it and start thinking about how to create a life that
is nourishing and truly satisfying.
Although snacks are no substitute for
loving your life, they can be great energy boosters. Many convenient snack
foods are highly processed and full of chemicals, additives, damaging fats and
refined sugars. When a snack attack hits you, try foods that are filling and
satisfying, but also nutritious. Here are some tips:
- Snack on things that don’t come in a plastic wrapper or a box, like fresh fruit, leftover vegetables or rice cakes
with almond butter and fruit spread.
- Make
your own signature trail mix, organic hot chocolate made with almond milk
sweetened with agave nectar, or blue corn chips with hummus.
You can also try “upgrading”:
- If
you are craving something crunchy, upgrade from potato chips to raw
carrots, apples or whole grain crackers.
- If
you are craving a candy bar, upgrade to a handful of nuts and dried fruit.
- Instead
of a cup of coffee, upgrade to green tea.
Instead
of ice cream, upgrade to applesauce with cinnamon.
Upgraded snacks are high in nutrition
and give you a greater sense of satiety and satisfaction; you won’t feel
physically or psychologically deprived, and you’ll have plenty of energy to
sustain your activities for hours.
Snacking is enjoyable and there is a wide variety of healthful goodies for whatever you’re craving, be it sweet, crunchy, salty,
creamy or spicy. Dive in, be creative and enjoy your snack attack.
Food Focus: Fruit
A healthy lifestyle is the key to longevity, optimum weight,
abundant energy and balance. By using fruit to satisfy our taste for sweetness,
we can leave behind the use of chemical, processed and refined sweeteners.
Fruits are easy to digest, are cleansing and cooling and are great for those
who are overstressed and overheated from excessive mental strain or hot
climates. Fruits are filled with fiber and liver stimulants, which act as natural,
gentle laxatives. Whenever possible, buy fresh, locally grown fruit as opposed
to imported fruits shipped from far-off places. This keeps you eating in
season, and more in harmony with your environment and climate.
Eating raw fruit in summer months is highly cooling, while baking
it in the winter months neutralizes the cooling effect. Fruit in the form of
juice is a great choice for cleansing the body, but be aware that juice rapidly
raises blood sugar levels, leading to an energy crash soon after. Frozen,
whole, puréed or juiced fruit can make great summertime cool-down treats. Try
frozen grapes, banana-coconut smoothie popsicles or lime juice ice-cubes in
iced tea!
Whether you are having fresh fruit for a light early morning
breakfast, a midday snack or evening treat, enjoy nature's sweetness and
whenever possible buy organic. Here are a few summer fruits and their health
benefits:
Apricots: Great for lung conditions and asthma; used to
help treat anemia due to their high copper and cobalt content.
Bananas: Help to lubricate the intestines, treat
ulcers, detoxify the body and manage sugar cravings; are rich in potassium
(which helps hypertension).
Cherries: Slightly warming in nature; increase overall
body energy, remedy arthritis and rheumatism and are rich in iron, which
improves the blood.
Grapefruits: Treat poor digestion, increase appetite during
pregnancy, alleviate intestinal gas and reduce mucus conditions of the lungs.
Papayas: Tone the stomach, act as digestive aid,
moisten the lungs and alleviate coughing; contain carpaine, an anti-tumor
compound.
Raspberries: Benefit the liver and kidneys, cleanse blood
of toxins, regulate menstrual cycles, treat anemia and can promote labor at
childbirth.
Prep time: 5 minutes
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients:
1 banana
1 cup soy or rice milk
1 cup berries
1 cup diced melon
1/2 cup almonds
2-4 ice cubes
Directions:
1. Mix in blender for 1-2
minutes and serve.
Note: You can add other
ingredients for added nutrition such as a spoonful of bee pollen, coconut oil,
flax seed oil, spirulina powder or a scoop of protein powder.
Forward to a Friend
It’s
such a pleasure to help those closest to us become happier and healthier.
Please forward this newsletter to friends, family members or colleagues who
might be interested and inspired by it.
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