Are These “Innocent” Snacking Habits Setting Back Your Diet?

You’ve been working hard to be “good” and stick to a healthy diet. Your goal is to lose a few pounds, or more than a few pounds, to achieve a healthier body. You’re determined to feel great about yourself at your next check-up at the doctor’s office. Why is it that you’re not making the progress that you should with your eating plan? The answer could be as simple as your snacking habits.
 
Snacking is an important part of many forms of weight loss dieting. Mindful snacking can help to keep away food cravings that are hard to control. It can help you to make smarter food choices at meal time. However, if you are choosing the wrong types of snacks, you may be doing more harm than good with this otherwise healthy habit.
 
The following mistakes may help to explain the reason that you’re not achieving the weight loss rate you think you should.  
 
1. You’re overeating at snack time – You may be paying close attention to what you’re eating, but if you eat too much of it, you’re still holding yourself back. Yes, nuts, cottage cheese, and natural peanut butter on whole grain crackers can be a great option to fill you up at snack time. They’re full of healthy nutrients. However, if you’re eating too much of them, you’ll eat far too many calories for your body to be able to burn in a day.

2. You’re falling for labels – Just because a product says that it is organic, gluten-free, or even fat-free, it doesn’t mean that it is great for your weight loss strategy. These foods are meant for specific types of eating choices but are not labeled for people who want to lose weight. They may contain just as many calories – or even more – than their counterparts. In fact, the form of those calories may make it even harder for you to lose weight. A fat free product may contain more sugar and sodium to replace the flavor lost from the fat. The last thing most dieters want is a high-sugar food!

3. You’re ignoring macronutrients – Even if you’re not following a low-fat, high-protein, or low-carb diet, your macronutrients shouldn’t be ignored. They mean something. Your body will use your food differently depending on the macros contained within those meals and snacks. Learn about macronutrients and gain a general understanding of their benefits in your body. You may not need to track them, but it doesn’t hurt to try to make sure they’re present in an overall appropriate balance in your meals. That will help you to know you will be filled up, energized and healthy!