Do you have a “Snack Tool Kit”?

Snacking can be a positive part of our day and help us stay satisfied and energized for the whole day…if we play our cards right. It can be useful for many people to have ‘snacks’ in between our main meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) to help us last the distance! Listening to our hunger cues can be a good indicator when a snack might be needed. For many people stretching four to five hours in between meal times can set our hunger signals ‘through the roof”! If we ignore our signals or simply never pay attention to them, we can often push past nourishing our bodies when it needs it most. This can lead to a frenzy of feeding; grabbing whatever is in sight and as quickly as possible! Sound familiar?

There are many ideas around on healthy snacking but today we want to highlight just ONE key success factor in helping to improve our snacking behaviors towards healthier outcome! Our number one tip for healthy snacking is to be prepared and have options for snacks planned in advance so you have many options to choose from. Have you ever considered packing yourself a Snack Tool Kit?

Snack Tool Kit components

• Foods that are portable and generally nonperishable (although some fruits like bananas and apples are still good short term options!)
• Foods that can be left at work, in the car, in your handbag to be on standby for when they are needed most!
• A variety of options (savoury and sweet) that enable you to match your food desires and will satisfy you most!
• Snacks are generally around 100-200 calories (420kJ-840kJ)
• An adequate food bag that you can store items in
• A quick dash to the shops with the list below to stock up!

Here are some of our Snack Tool Kit suggestions

• 30g nuts
• Packets of dried fruit e.g. sultanas
• Packet of air popped popcorn or salt reduced pretzels
• An apple or banana or SPC fruit snack
• An Up n Go, Oats Express or Sustagen ready to drink popper
• 3-4 wholegrain crackers (vita-weats, ryvita, corn thins)
• Tinned tuna/salmon or sardines
• Mini can of baked beans
• Vegetable soups in microwaveable bowls
• Roasted dried chickpeas or broad beans
• Muesli bars e.g. Uncle Toby’s real fruit bar, Kellogg’s K-time, Natures Own or try this homemade muesli bar option
• Dried cereal e.g. quick oats sachets, weetbix sachets
• 1-2 biscuits (Weston Oatmeal, or Arnott’s Snack Right Full o’Fruit biscuits)
• Or why not try our homemade muffin recipe

What do you pack in your Snack Tool Kit?