Are the snacks really necessary for us?

Many wonder if snacks are really essential for maintaining weight. According to the popular perception, these meals may cause weight gain, but in practice it turns out that skipping snacks leads to uncontrollable eating later in the day, which is why they are so important. The snacks serve as a small and nutritious supplement that helps maintain balanced hunger levels throughout the day – and not only that.Regulation of blood sugar levels: Snacks help keep sugar levels stable, which leads to a prolonged feeling of satiety and reduces cravings for sweets.

Maintaining a feeling of satiety: When we eat small and frequent meals, we maintain a feeling of fullness throughout the day, and reduce the chance of eating more than we really need.

Maintaining a high metabolism: Eating every 3-4 hours helps maintain an active metabolism throughout the day, which increases daily energy expenditure and contributes to maintaining a normal body weight.

Prevention of uncontrolled eating: These meals help prevent extreme hunger, which reduces the chance of favoring unhealthy foods or foods high in calories, saturated fat and sugar.

5 ideas for healthy snacks

Slices of yellow cheese 15% rolled with an olive

Health benefits: The cheese is a source of quality protein, rich in calcium and satisfying; And olives contain plant fatty acids that contribute to cardiovascular health.

Ten cherry tomatoes and 100 grams of Bulgarian cheese cut into cubes

Health benefits: Cherry tomatoes are rich in vitamin C, which strengthens the immune system and reduces inflammatory processes, and Bulgarian cheese is rich in calcium, which is essential for bone health. The combination between them is powerful, since vitamin C helps the calcium in the Bulgarian cheese to be absorbed in the intestines in a better way.

A walnut inside a moist date with a spoonful of raw tahini

Health benefits: Walnut contains good fats from the plant that help maintain the health of the heart and blood vessels. In addition, it contains vitamins and minerals such as: calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and folic acid. The date provides energy available to the body, and the raw tahini contains good fatty acids, calcium, folic acid and magnesium. You should prefer whole sesame tahini because it contains eight times more calcium.

ten almonds (not roasted)

Health benefits: The nut family contains good fatty acids and antioxidants. Almonds contain the highest amount of calcium among nuts, so they are considered effective in reducing heartburn. Almonds are also rich in vitamin E, which reduces inflammatory processes and is good for the general health of the body’s systems.

A slice of wholemeal bread with a tablespoon of cottage cheese 5%

Health benefits: The cottage cheese is a source of high-quality protein and calcium, and wholemeal bread is rich in dietary fiber that helps digestion, prevents constipation and provides satiety for a longer time. Also, a combination of dietary fiber in the menu reduces the chance of getting various types of cancer.

Sion Eckler, children’s nutritionist of the general in Sharon Shomron district