Prevent Snack Sabotage with Skinnygirl Snack Swaps

NEW YORK - Sept. 23, 2014 - PRLog -- New York, NY, September 22, 2014 -- Shotgun snacking can derail the best of healthy-eating intentions.  Snacks are sneaking into our diets more than ever before:  the average American consumes a quarter of their daily calories from snacks, so it is important to make smart choices.  We at Skinnygirl like to think of it as “treating yourself healthy.”

Skinnygirl is encouraging women to swap out their snacks for more healthful options with the Skinnygirl Snack Swap campaign (www.skinnygirlsnackswap.com).  The Skinnygirl Snack Swap website features a playful tool that asks users to choose their favorite snack and then personally picks healthier options to match that craving.  The site has plenty of nutritionist-approved healthy snack recipes, and a social media component to share the snack swap on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

To help inspire and whet your appetite, Skinnygirl Daily offers these tips for smart snacking along with satisfying snack swaps:

Don’t be a slave to the idea of snacking

·       Free yourself from snack tyranny by giving yourself permission to skip that   mid-morning, afternoon or evening snack.  If you are not hungry, you don’t need it.

No shotgun snacking

·       Don’t rush into a relationship with the first snack you meet.  Make sure to have healthy snacks on hand at all times so you are not tempted by vending machine candy and chips.

Spoil your appetite, but pick your spot on when to indulge

·       It is OK to enjoy a decadent dessert once in a while.  If you really want a slice of that cake your coworkers brought to the office, have a small piece and really enjoy it.  Balance the rest of your day out with healthier options.

Stay within snacking guardrails

·       A smart snack is one that is under 200 calories, is a good source of protein (at least six grams) and provides at least three grams of fiber.  Keep added sugars to a minimum (fewer than 9 grams), and look for healthy fats (think nuts, avocado, olives).

“A smart snack an hour or two before going out will save you hundreds of unnecessary calories later.   It can prevent you from overeating at your next meal or overindulging at a cocktail party,” said Meghan Flynn, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist who works with Skinnygirl Daily.

The first step towards snacking smarter is to figure out what you are hungry for, then have some go-to healthy choices at the ready to fit those cravings.  Here are some of Skinnygirl Daily’s favorite snack swaps:

Craving Sweets

Satisfy your chocolate craving with these healthful options:

·       Skinnygirl Tasty Nutrition Bars in Dark Chocolate Multigrain Pretzel, Chocolate Peanut Butter with Sea Salt or Banana Oatmeal Dark Chocolate so you can enjoy the decadent flavors that you love while taming your hunger at the same time with protein (6 – 7 grams per bar) and fiber (5 grams per bar), all for under 170 calories.

·       Fruit dipped in dark chocolate sauce

·       Cereal with at least three grams of fiber and skim milk

Something Salty

Salt can be bloating, so look for lower sodium snacks and pair with low-fat dairy, fruits or vegetables to provide a potassium boost.

·       Rice cakes topped with low-fat cottage cheese and sliced strawberries

·       Soy crisps with hummus and a glass of skim milk

·       Salt and vinegar flavored almonds

·       Steamed edamame with a sprinkle of sea salt

Crunchy and Creamy Combos

Forgo chips and dip with these svelte snacks:

·       Hummus and veggies

·       Zucchini halves (hallowed out), topped with guacamole

·       Whole grain crackers and light cheese spread

·       Almond or peanut butter spread on apple slices

Cool Cravings

Instead of ice cream or some other frozen calorie bomb, try these cool treats instead:

·       Fruit smoothie: In blender, mix 1 cup orange juice with ½ cup frozen berries and 1 scoop protein powder

·       Frozen Greek yogurt with berries

·       Frozen bananas: freeze halves on a stick, dip in dark chocolate and roll in chopped almonds

On-the-Go

Never leave the house without these conveniently nutritious snacks packed in your bag:

·      20 almonds or 18 cashews

·          Skinnygirl Daily Tasty Nutrition bars

·          Green apple

·          Hard cooked egg

Skinnygirl Tasty Nutrition Bars are available nationwide at retailers including Target stores, as well as online. For additional information visit www.SkinnygirlDaily.com or www.Facebook.com/SkinnygirlDaily.

About Skinnygirl

Founded on the practical, healthy lifestyle expertise of Bethenny Frankel, Skinnygirl provides solutions to women’s most common health concerns making the path to healthier living as fun and straightforward as possible. Products are created with distinctly high standards for the best ingredient quality, nutritional content and taste. Skinnygirl empowers women to lead balanced lives by making healthy choices easy. To learn more about Skinnygirl Daily, please visit skinnygirldaily.com; Facebook: SkinnygirlDaily; Twitter: @SkinnygirlDaily.