You know you need to eat to maintain your energy and you know that to keep your metabolism going you have to consume a certain amount of calories but do you know what to eat?  Small portion snacking sounds easy enough but the truth is when I talk to people about what they are eating, they typically are overeating or making poor choices. You need to make good choices when the cravings start.

What are Good Snack Choices When the Cravings Start?

A few hours after breakfast when the glucose in your body starts to diminish, you are hungry. You want something sweet possibly to go with the extra cup of coffee you are enjoying. After all, you need a snack right? Dieticians are always saying, be sure to have snacks between meals. A scone seems like a perfect idea. Sadly a scone from Starbuck's has up to 800 calories and clearly a bad choice.

Some great mid-morning snacks are:
•    A small bag of banana chips (30g) - 199 calories
•    Smoothie,  strawberry with marshmallows - 277 calories
•    Half a bagel with low fat cream cheese and figs - 190 calories
•    Malt bread, two slices - 188 calories

Need some energy a few hours after lunch? Feel the 3pm blues?  Going for a walk would be a great choice to pep you up but most of us don't have that luxury so try instead to reach for a healthy energy snack:

•    Pumpernickel bread, 2 slices with 2 tbsp honey - 232 calories
•    Large piece of gingerbread - 254 calories
•    Rye bread, 2 slices with vegetable pâté - 265 calories
•    A bag of candied popcorn (75g) - 240 calories

It's night time and you have done pretty good all day but the munchies are setting in and you want to  eat anything in the fridge that has chocolate.  That may not be the best idea and yet a bowl of carrots doesn't meet your needs either.  Try these snacks instead:

•    A portion of lemon sorbet - 124 calories
•    A portion of lemon mousse - 83 calories
•    A portion of crème caramel - 98 calories


Lastly, you are at a party and you see the appetizer trays set out on the buffet table and all you want to do is find the perfect place to graze.  Problem is, if you are having a glass of wine or other cocktail, you are starting to care less and less about the choices you are going to make leaving you vulnerable to unwanted calories. My personal favorite after a night of one too many is a Wendy's Cheeseburger and of course fries, all that typically after a full dinner I would have had earlier. Normally I would not eat a cheeseburger and fries, well I do allow myself the kid's meal sizes, but certainly not the super size and after a meal to boot!

So, what can you snack on at a party to keep from committing diet homicide?  Well, firstly drink water and limit the salty choices. The alcohol and salty foods will dehydrate you leaving you thirsty for another drink.  

Try snacking on:
•    Garlic bread, 2 sices - 300 calories
•    Chicken satay, 2 sticks with peanut dip - 268 calories
•    A few potato wedges with 2 tbsp sour cream dip - 280 calories
•    A  slice of Spanish tortilla/fritatta - 155 calories

By applying some of these ideas to your diet you will be on your way to making good snack choices when the cravings start.