Snacking Leads to Boosting Your Metabolism

Metabolism is the process in which your body turns the food and beverages you consume into energy.  There are different factors, such as age and gender that affect metabolism, another is food.  Certain foods can facilitate an increase in metabolism and burn some of that unwanted calories and body fat.  Preparing your snacks should include some of these metabolism boosting foods and beverages, which include: egg whites, lean meats, water, grapefruit, chili peppers, green tea, milk (low- or non-fat), whole grains, and lentils.

• Egg whites contain branched-chain amino acids that will speed up your metabolism and burn fat.
• Lean meats and lentils are both rich in iron.  A diet low in iron can actually slow metabolism down by not efficiently burning calories.
• Chili peppers and green tea contain chemical compounds, capsaicin in chilies and EGCG in green tea that also gives your metabolism a boost.
• Consuming milk and other dairy products have been shown to metabolize fat more efficiently.
• Whole grains are an excellent source of fiber.  It not only aids with keeping cholesterol and blood sugars low, it helps metabolism by taking longer for whole grains to break down during digestion.
• Grapefruit has been shown to help with weight loss due to its effects on insulin, a fat-storage hormone, making it a great weight loss snack.
• Lastly, I cannot stress enough the importance of water.  Living in Southern California, we are just starting to feel the heat, compared to Mt. Rushmore in South Dakota, where it is actually snowing.  But keeping hydrated is very important, even mild dehydration can slow down metabolism.

When you are feeling hungry and in need of a snack, take a few of these ingredients and think of them as beautiful colors of paint.  Your pot, pan or mixing bowl is your blank canvas, and what ends up on your plate is your very own masterpiece of art.  But if you are like me and have a hard time coloring inside the lines, click on the links below for recipes to boost your metabolism.

Spiced Green Tea Smoothie

Honey Grapefruit with Banana

Banana & Almond Butter Toast

Curried Egg Salad Sandwich

Ham, Sliced Pear & Swiss Sandwich

Sunflower Lentil Spread

We all have those days when we feel like there is not enough time in the day to fit in everything.  For all the very active supermoms out there, busy seems like an understatement.  The days can be filled with taking the kids to school, going to work and/or school, picking the kids up from school, making sure they get to their after school activity on time, helping with homework, preparing a meal, and the list goes on and on.  So when in the day can a break be penciled in?  Another important question to ask is where do moms find the energy?

Though you don’t need to stop everything to fit in a break, you do need to refuel with something to eat to sustain energy throughout the day.  Eating snacks are the perfect way to provide energy in between meals. There are some quick, handy snacks that are not time-consuming in preparation and can be eaten on-the-go.

Here are 10 super simple healthy snacks for busy moms:

1)      Fruits and veggies.  Apples, bananas, baby carrots, celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, or any of your favorites that are in season.  You can slice and dice different fruits and vegetables, and store them in individual sandwich bags the evening before or on a weekend.  Another option is to get pre-packaged fruits and veggies. They can be eaten fresh, frozen, dried or from a can or cup (just beware of added sugar!).

2)      Consider some dairy.  Take along with you non- or low-fat yogurt, cottage or individually wrapped string cheese for your protein fix.

3)      Be nutty.  Nuts are another protein source that can be kept in your car or purse.  Take a handful of your favorite nut choice, such as unsalted almonds, pistachios, walnuts, peanuts, or a mixed variety.

4)      Get some whole grains.  Try 100% whole grain granola bars that are low in added sugars or low sodium, trans-fat free whole grain crackers.  Lastly, my personal favorite, avocado spread on top of whole grain toast.

5)      Trail mix.  A mixture of nuts, seeds, and naturally dried fruit like raisins or dried berries.

6)      Edamame.  These are pods of deliciousness.  Add a dash of sea salt for an alternative protein snack.

7)      Blend it up.  It’s the perfect time for a smoothie.  It’s refreshing, especially with the days heating up.  Blueberries, spinach, chia seeds, low-fat plain yogurt, fresh squeezed orange juice is one of my favorite mixes.

8)      Deli meats.  Choose low-sodium deli meats, such as turkey or ham and wrap it around apple slices for a sweet and savory snack.

9)      Rice cakes.  Way better than a cake, in my opinion of course.  Eat them by themselves or top them with peanut butter and honey or hummus and fresh veggies.

10)   Hard boiled eggs.  A complete protein.  Save some time by popping them into boiling water as you prep your fruits and veggies.

These 10 quick, easy snacks are great for moms with a busy schedule.  These are just helpful ideas for quick snacks, but it also allows room for creativity to help maximize the ingredients you already have. Just remember, not only are these snacks healthy and easy to prepare, they provide energy throughout the day.

Happy snacking!