But guess what? Snacking can be one of the best things you can do for yourself. When you start feeling hungry, your blood sugar has started to drop. You start feeling an emptiness in your stomach, you get a headache, you have trouble focusing, and maybe you even become randomly upset at your spouse or coworker for absolutely no reason. We’re all guilty of it. But the solution is simple: have a snack.

This will help your body rebalance its blood sugar levels, regain energy and focus, and maintain peace with your family and friends.

HOW TO SNACK

When choosing a snack, you want it to be both satisfying and balanced with macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fat) and fiber. Carbohydrates are the body’s number one fuel source. Aim to eat primarily complex carbohydrates like whole grain bread, oats, or potatoes, because they are a more stable source of energy. Protein includes foods like meat, eggs, or beans; fat includes foods like olive oil, avocado, or nuts; and fiber can be found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Protein, fat, and fiber all slow the absorption of your snack or meal, which aids in stabilizing your blood sugars. This helps you keep your mood and energy up and avoid blood sugar spikes and crashes. One of my favorite balanced snack combinations is yogurt (protein), granola with nuts or seeds (carbohydrates and fat), and berries (fiber).

TAKEAWAY

This snack is a perfect balance of carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber without much added sugar. Kodiak Cakes are a great source of carbohydrates and protein, peanut butter adds some healthy fat to the mix, and mashed raspberries are a great source of fiber. The mashed berries also help give this snack a natural sweetness without the addition of added sugar like you find in most jellies. These mini cakes are the perfect snack to satisfy those afternoon hunger pangs!

Start to be mindful of your body’s hunger cues so you know when it’s time to eat a nutritious, well-balanced snack. Try to catch them earlier rather than later to prevent any “hangry” attitude, too. I’ve discovered that I need a snack when I start to get that empty stomach feeling and slight dizziness. Once you can recognize your hunger cues, start testing out different combinations of carbohydrates, protein, fat, and fiber. You don’t have to fit in every category with every snack, but work to find the combinations that you enjoy most, satiate your hunger, and help you feel your best. And don’t forget, snacking is one of the best things you can do for your body when you do it right!