What to Eat When: Foods for Slimming, Sleeping and Satisfying
Eat the best foods for midnight snacks, lunch on the go and road trips.
Aug. 9, 2009— -- Milk builds strong bones, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Common wisdom, but turns out the important thing is not just what to eat, it's when to eat it.
"We cannot evaluate the health of a food based solely on its grams of carbohydrates, fats or calories," says nutritionist Kimberly Snyder. "We also have to evaluate how easily or not it breaks down and digests in the body, and what time of day we are eating will affect health and digestion."
Timing is everything, especially when it comes to food, says Snyder.
Lunch on the Go
Do Eat: AvocadosRun into a deli and grab a whole avocado. Avocados are a nonclogging plant fat with tons of minerals and fiber. Avocados give stomachs a "full feeling" and provide long-burning fuel for a jam-packed day.
Family Road Trip
Do Eat: Almond Butter SandwichesAlmonds are a blood sugar stabilizer that will keep your kids calm. Avoid using peanut butter since most popular brands are loaded with sugar. Almond butter is a healthier alternative. Most almond butter is made without sugar, and almonds are full of vitamin E and protein. And be sure to toast the bread. Toasting is important because it bakes out the sticky starch qualities and makes it easier to digest.
Date Night
Do Eat: WatermelonInstead, leading up to the night, eat lots of watermelon. Watermelon is a natural diuretic that will flush excess fluids out of the body, leaving the body at its most lean.
Midnight Snack
Do Eat: Veggie SticksThe best midnight snacks are quick-moving alkaline foods such as carrots, celery or any vegetable stick. Vegetables won't bloat the stomach, and the body will be able to rest.
For more information on Kimberly Snyder, visit kimberlysnyder.net.