My Favorite Snack

I have to admit…I have a favorite snack!  Do you?  I eat one everyday with my cup of coffee at 10:00 while I am sitting at my desk.  It's my mid-morning mini break.  Seems silly, sort of.  I try to be pretty scheduled with everything.  And no, I am not a control freak, I just like "order".  It is truly a benefit when it comes to fueling my body, however.  Eating at consistent times throughout each day helps keep your body on point and running properly.

LaraBars!  They are delicious!  Although my kiddos are not a fan, having a relatively clean diet of my own, they taste fabulous to me!  I will admit, the texture could throw you off a bit, but not me.  They are the best little snack ever!  I only buy the ones that don't add cane sugar.  My favorite is the Cherry Pie flavor!!  It is dried fruit and nuts ground and smashed together for a fabulous explosion of flavor in your mouth!  It is healthy, great fuel for your body and a tiny piece of happiness in a busy morning schedule.  I eat a snack size one - 90 calories!  Add a little natural protein to my coffee and I have fuel until lunch.

What is your favorite snack?  Share with me your healthy treats, after all, I am still switching up my afternoon snack and always looking for something tasty to try!

Food! F.O.O.D. Food!

Mom, I'm hungry.  Mom…I am HUNGRY!  Some days my youngest is a broken record.  She is always hungry!  I try to encourage healthy food choices by setting a good example, but that doesn't always sink in.  Kids are notorious for wanting junk food.  I like to indulge my children.  I like to indulge myself too, but lets face it, having processed food in the house is setting yourself and your children for failure in the nutrition department.  I hate to say it, but it's true.  If it's in the cabinet and I am busy or pressed for time,  I will grab it because junk food makes everyone happy in the moment.  But in the end, it makes us crave more and it gets easier and easier to make the wrong choice.  That downward spiral will effect everything from motivation, weight, emotions and bodily functions.

Trying to convince my 9 year old of all of this is hard!  My solution, don't buy it!  Keep it out of the house.  We have a rule in our house, snacks must be clean.  Our conversations normally go something like this:  

"Mom, I am starving."

"You are not starving."
"I want a snack.  I so hungry.  Can I have (imagine any sweet, sugar filled snack a child would suggest)?"
"No."
"What can I have?  I am really hungry."
"Ok.  Would you like me to cut up and apple?  How about some carrots?  I have peanut butter balls."
"Is there anything else?  Pllllease?"

At this point, I simply say no.  If you aren't not hungry for a, b or c, then you aren't that hungry.  Sometimes she caves and eats the healthy choice and other times, she skips her snack.  Either way, I feel like I did my part by having healthy choices and sticking to our rule.  I try to ask myself this same question when I am hungry.  What do I want to eat?  Am I hungry or am I bored.  If I am hungry, a healthy snack usually sounds like just what I need, when I am bored or "craving" something, I grab a glass and fill it with water and move on with my day.  It's that simple.  Try not to give up what your goal is for something that you want right now!  In the end, you will always be happy you went with a healthy choice.  Your body will feel better and it is motivating in conquering one more obstacle that day making you stronger for the next temptation!