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This or that?

Snack choices can make or break your weight-loss success 

It's normal to feel hungry when starting a weight-loss plan, and snacking can make or break your success. If your tummy is growling, resist the urge to grab a few potato chips; instead, look for a snack that provides nutrition and decreases your appetite. Here are some substitutions: 

If you're feeling hungry between meals, the best solution will always be protein. Reach for a boiled egg, a little cup of chicken salad or tuna salad or cheese and pepperoni. Avoid snacks like granola bars. While they are often marketed as health foods, they are often high in sugar and won’t help you cut your calories.

Choose a boiled egg

Over a granola bar

Hard boiled egg
Granola bar
When you’re craving something salty or crunchy, opt for pecans, walnuts, almonds, peanuts or seeds. Cut vegetables with no-sugar peanut butter or cheese crisps are good options, too.  

Choose peanuts

Over potato chips

Peanuts
Potato chips
To satisfy a sweet tooth, don’t reach for the ice cream. Instead, make a cup of low-sugar Greek yogurt with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon, or try no-sugar peanut butter with a crunchy vegetable. For those who are craving chocolate, try to choose snacks that have more than 70 percent concentrated cocoa, which means less sugar. 

Choose Greek yogurt

Over ice cream

Greek yogurt
Ice cream
Coffee

If you are not sure If what you feel is hunger or cravings, try consuming a non-sugary drink first like water, seltzer water, unsweetened coffee or tea and wait a few minutes before deciding to eat.  

If you’re having trouble staying on track and need some expert advice, TidalHealth Medical Weight Loss & Bariatric Nutrition has a team of knowledgeable providers that can help. 
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Profile picture for user Dr. Sandra Palavecino
Sandra
Palavecino, MD
Contributing Author
& Article Expert
Sandra Palavecino, MD has been part of TidalHealth Medical Weight Loss and Bariatric Nutrition since 2015 and the director of the medical weight loss program since 2016. Dr. Palavecino obtained he...

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