Your Go-to Snacks

While I do not promote a rampant, snack-culture (hearty, satisfying meals are always best), here are the snacks I would recommend for mid-morning or afternoon:

1. Nuts. Two billion squirrels can't be wrong! An ounce of almonds, walnuts, peanuts, or pistachios provides about 8 grams of protein, the same as a glass of milk. Nuts contain unsaturated fat too, a good fat, which reduces LDL (bad) cholesterol and keeps your body sated.

2. Dried Fruit. Cranberries, raisins, pineapple, papaya, banana, or my favorite: organic, dried mango slices. Make sure you buy ulsulphured and unsweetened dried fruit to avoid unnecessary sugar or preservatives. You'll find that your jaw tells you when you've had enough and your belly will agree.

3. Avocado - seriously, cut it in half and eat it with a spoon, sprinkled with a little sea salt or hot sauce and lime. Delish. Avocados have beneficial monounsaturated fat, 60% more potassium than a banana, and are rich in Vitamins E, B, and K. Buy a whole bunch and add them to everything you eat. I am convinced anything with a sliced avocado on it looks gourmet. Indeed, most restaurants jack up the price of anything with a few, precious slices of this green guy.

4. Plain, full fat yogurt parfait. Don't worry about the fat. It's natural. The sugar content is what you need to worry about. Add your own sweetness (maple syrup, agave, honey) as well as fresh, shredded coconut, nuts, fresh fruit--whatever your heart desires. Don't buy yogurt that has the gooey, mystery fruit in it. It is highly processed and full of sugar and preservatives. Try to wean yourself off of sugary yogurt and slowly accustom your body to plain jane yogurt with 12g of sugar or less per serving. My favorite brands are Trader Joes, Wallaby and Brown Cow.

5. Lara Bars - these are the only "bars" I will eat, simply because they only have 2-3 ingredients on the label, like banana, date for example. They are vegan, organic and the least processed bars around.


6. Banana with Almond Butter. Get baby bananas (my favorite) and smear a little almond butter on top and enjoy.


7. Tea and a cookie. Because sometimes that's what you really want. A tea can be like a liquid hug. And if you do have a cookie, get the prettiest, most lovely cookie you can find and eat it slowly and only have one. Pretend you're writing a poem about it that's how special it is. Savor your tea and close your eyes. Then get back to work with a smile, you lazy bum.