The most common questions I get as a Trainer & Nutrition Coach center around what foods
are acceptable to eat for snacks.
While we like to think we can get by on three square meals a day, the majority of us have at least one or two snacks each and every day. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. But, what does tend to be bad is the type of snack we choose.
I remember working in an office building a few years back. From time to time, I’d hit the vending machines for a quick snack, usually in the late afternoon.
What was in those vending machines? You know the answer to that. They were filled with nutritional nightmares. Chips, candy bars, Danishes — pure poison for the body.
To give credit though, the place I was working at tried to help by having one of the vending machines stocked with healthier choices, like fruit and nuts, but nobody and I do mean NOBODY bought anything from it.
The experiment lasted less than three months. When I spoke to human resources about it, they said the machine had about 15 percent of the revenue the other machine brought in.
In other words, even though there was a healthier option, most people opted for the crap foods with little or no nutritional value.
The same thing happens at those fast food joints. Most of them have a healthy option or two to choose from, yet if you talk to them about their sales they’ll tell you most people go for the double burger with larger fries each and every time…by a WIDE margin.
So what should you snack on? What is the “perfect” snack?
While there are many good options for snacking, such as the aforementioned fruit or nuts, but in my opinion there is one that trumps them all.
What is it you ask? The Hard Boiled Egg
Hard boiled eggs are an amazing food full of of good stuff like protein, vitamins A, D, E and a host of the Bs. Each also contains minerals such as iron, zinc and calcium.
A large egg is a about 75 calories with seven grams of protein, five grams of fat and less than one gram of carbohydrate.
They are among the most easily absorbed sources of protein and aren’t filled with sugar and other fillers that, for example, protein bars have.
And for those watching their calories they’re great because they have both protein and fat eggs keep you felling full longer than other options, thus reducing the likelihood you’ll go looking for something else to eat.
Add to it hard boiled eggs very easy to make. Boil up some water drop in your eggs wait a few minutes and done!
Laurie and I boil a dozen each weekend, and keep them in the fridge for those times when we need a quick snack to hold us over. Not only that, they’re great for on the go. Heck, they even have their own carrying case. 😀
Oh, and did I mention they’re cheap? Even these days when prices are skyrocketing an egg costs less than 25 cents. Heck you could have 2 for a snack and still pay a fraction of what that bag of chips from the vending machine cost
Want to get fancy and help out a local farmer? Many farm stands and markets have vendors selling fresh eggs. Not to long ago I got a dozen organic eggs for $5.00 or about .40 cents per egg.. Still way cheaper than anything you’ll find in a vending machine
Now there are those out there who still believe the long disproved study that eggs are “bad for you” and es, It’s true that each egg has a little over 200 milligrams of cholesterol, but as recent studies have shown, the cholesterol we consume has a lower impact on the levels in our body than was previously thought.
So if you’re worried about it or if you’re on medication for cholesterol, or on a controlled diet, speak with your physician on how eggs will impact your health.
But, if you’re looking for a quick snack, one you can take on the go and won’t break the bank, get to your fridge and boil up some eggs and enjoy!
Oh and here’s a final quick thought.. don’t like just hard boiled eggs?
Then make Deviled Eggs! Yes there’s mayo in them but the impact is minimal especially if you choose a low fat or avocado based mayo.
Comments