Common Diet Misconceptions: No More Snacking

When people go on a diet they often make the mistake of assuming that because they are having to limit what they eat, they will necessarily have to cut out everything that doesn't conform to the “no fat, no frills, no fun” stereotype. This extends to thinking that there can be no more snacking – just three meals a day which must be made out of green stuff. And it could not be further from the truth.

You can still snack when you are on a diet. Of course, this does not mean that as long as you eat three healthy meals you can eat whatever you want at any time. Rather, you can eat healthy snacks if you get peckish between meals. Apart from anything else it is a much better alternative than overeating at the next meal and giving your digestive system too much to deal with.

 Healthy snacks include fresh fruit and nuts, or a slice of crusty bread spread with a healthy margarine and topped with a thin slice of cheese. One of the best and surprisingly healthiest snack options is peanut butter. It can be spread on grain crackers and even enjoyed with a stick of celery

If you get hungry between meals, another good option is a bowl of cereal. Obviously, a healthier cereal will be better here – an option containing whole bran, or a bowl of cornflakes is naturally preferable to something chocolatey or coated in honey. It's not too filling and it's not unhealthy, and it takes no time at all to prepare.

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