by Maria Papadopoulou

Created on: July 09, 2009

For those of us who think that 24 hours a day are not enough, the temptation of eating the first thing we can find is quite big, and in the long run, the effects on our health can be detrimental. Before you go into panic mode though, take a look at the following use full information:

A. The most important thing that you always need to remember is to drink lots and lots of water. You need to drink at least 11-8 ounces of glasses on a daily basis. Water not only plays a crucial role in the proper functioning of every major system in your body, but it also helps you suppress your appetite, therefore not even be tempted to eat. Carry a plastic watter bottle with you, filling it up when necessary. Make that a habit and you will be surprised how much water you will end up drinking before long.

B. If you choose to buy a snack, keep in mind that the portions served are usually too big, therefore it will be better to split the snack in half. Eat the first half and keep the second half for some other time. Of course in order for that to work, you have to exercise some self-restraint.

C. Choose from a variety of low fat snacks. None of them exceeds 250 calories.

1. Low fat cottage cheese with broccoli, or a rice cake topped with low fat cottage cheese, or even a single serving pack of low fat cottage cheese (it is usually sold in a pack of four, and again you have to exercise some self restraint so as not to eat all four of them at once).

2. Two-three baby carrots.

3. Four saltine or graham crackers with 2 tsp. of peanut butter

4.Half a turkey sandwich with reduced-calorie bread, mustard, and veggies

5. Half a bagel topped with a tablespoon of peanut butter.

6. Three water biscuits or crisps breads with reduced sugar jam.

7. A handful or raisins.

8. A few apple slices with low fat cheese

9. An egg salad. It is easy to make and it is a great combination of good protein and low fat. You will need to mix one whole egg and a white egg with one-two tablespoons of reduced fat mayonnaise.

10. Sugar free jello.

11. A bag of plain pretzels.

12. One banana, or two oranges or three kiwis.

D. If you don't have much time to eat, you can try low fat smoothies instead. They are refreshing, easy to make, and if you slowly drink them you will full very easily. Try blending in a blender one banana, 2 8 oz cups of low fat banana yogurt,1/2 cup of milk and 1/2 cup of shredded ice. You can make the same recipe replacing bananas with strawberries, apple, mango, melon, blueberry, raspberry, peach or pineapple.

Good luck!

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