You hear it everywhere: you need three balanced meals a day — breakfast, lunch and dinner. These three meals are essential, but one thing is often left out: the snack! Too often dismissed as a children’s habit or as mindless munching, it can still have its place in a varied, balanced diet. Discover 5 reasons to have a snack, our sweet and savoury ideas for choosing well, and 3 light, tasty recipes to try!
5 reasons to have a snack
Avoid mindless munching
Sometimes hours go by between two meals. After 3 to 4 hours, hunger tends to creep in — and that’s when things go sideways: you reach for whatever’s within arm’s reach. The chocolate croissants your colleague brought in, the packet of biscuits sitting on the desk, the forgotten bag of sweets at the back of the cupboard… Mindless snacking isn’t our best ally, girls: those little bites grabbed on the go aren’t always the most balanced. To avoid giving in, it’s far better to plan a healthy, mindful snack.
Give your day a rhythm
A healthy, balanced snack — with a piece of fruit or a slice of wholegrain bread, for example — is also a chance to add a little fibre to your day. And by having it at a regular time, you give your days a rhythm, which helps you avoid giving in to cravings.
Take a break when tiredness sets in
During the day, after several hours without eating, it’s perfectly normal to feel tired. Your body needs fuel to function properly. If your last meal wasn’t substantial enough, or didn’t include slow-release carbohydrates, you may find yourself flagging between meals. A small snack is then a chance to take a proper break before your next meal.
Snacking to better spread your daily intake
Giving your body a regular eating rhythm is a good habit. By spreading your intake across 4 meals instead of 3, you can more easily avoid overdoing it at your main meals.
Avoid feeling deprived
If you’re hungry and force yourself not to eat, you may well feel hungrier at your next meal. So it’s better not to stay deprived between meals. Instead, have a healthy snack that satisfies your hunger while still being a treat.
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What snack should you choose?
Now that you know why snacking is a good habit, let’s look at what you can eat during this little break… Keep in mind that a snack has its place as long as it’s light, balanced and mindful. It’s not meant to replace a full meal and should not exceed 200 calories for a moderately active woman.
If you’re short on time and prefer something sweet, you can treat yourself to: a fresh piece of fruit, a homemade cereal bar, fromage blanc with honey, or 2 squares of dark chocolate…
If you prefer something savoury, you can go for: a slice of wholegrain bread, a small piece of cheese, a hard-boiled egg or a handful of nuts.
If you have a little more time, why not try a slightly more elaborate snack? Here are 3 easy ideas!
Ultra-light fruit ice lollies
With summer just around the corner, it’s officially ice lolly season! This simple, wholesome recipe is perfect for a guilt-free treat.
Serves 2
Ingredients
- 60g of your favourite fruit (strawberries, apples, grapes…)
- 200ml of 100% fruit juice, no added sugar
- 100ml of water
Method
- Wash, peel if needed and cut your fruit into small pieces.
- In a small bowl, mix the water and fruit juice together. Add the fruit.
- Pour the mixture into 2 ice lolly moulds such as the SunnyPop.
- Place your lollies in the freezer for at least 24 hours and enjoy them as your afternoon snack!
A banana boat, for a snack with a twist
Bananas are a tasty, easy-to-carry fruit: don’t hesitate to enjoy one as your snack — especially if you have a workout planned!
Serves 1
Ingredients
- 1 banana
- 1 tbsp nut butter (cashew, almond, peanut…)
- 1 tbsp dried fruit
- 10 fresh raspberries
- 6 grapes
Method
Simply peel the banana and slice it in half lengthways. Spread nut butter over both halves, then add your toppings. That’s all there is to it!
Express chocolate mug cake
Who said chocolate cake and a balanced diet don’t mix? Certainly not us: here’s a delicious, light recipe, perfect for your afternoon snack.
Serves 1
Ingredients
- 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp cornflour
- 3 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp 0% fat fromage frais
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 egg
Method
- In a mug, mix together the egg and cocoa powder.
- Add the water, fromage frais, honey and cornflour, then mix well.
- Microwave your mug cake for 1 minute 30 seconds on medium power.
Enjoy!
Snacks and meals: how should you organise your day?
A snack doesn’t replace meals: it comes on top of a day built around three balanced meals — breakfast, lunch and dinner. To start the day well, go for a simple, tasty breakfast, such as our light snack recipes.
Then time your snack for the longest gap between two meals, when hunger starts to creep in after 3 to 4 hours. At lunch and dinner alike, go for varied plates and reasonable portions. Since you no longer arrive at the table starving, you can enjoy your meals without overdoing it.
As we’ve just seen, a snack has its place in a varied, balanced diet… as long as you choose wisely!
To look after your skin, go for a simple trio: a varied diet, physical activity and rolling-and-kneading massage with your CelluBlue Cups. To complete this routine, you can also discover the 14-day anti-cellulite programme, which combines capsules and a draining formula bringing together 13 selected actives. Find out more right here.
Related articles
- Snacking: ideas and tips for a balanced break
- Healthy snacks: 7 easy and tasty recipes
- July fruits and vegetables: what you need to know
Useful categories: Anti-Cellulite Diet.
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