Everyone loves a good, hearty snack. They keep our energy levels up - preventing the dreaded afternoon slog - and decrease our chances of overeating at meal times, among other things.
That being said, snacking can be a slippery slope for those wanting to lose a few pounds as this seemingly harmless action can lead to overeating before mealtimes - which can then lead to excess calories being added into the mix, weight gain, or even skipping meals altogether due to already being full, which puts you at risk of missing out on key nutrients.
But snacking doesn't have to be a bad thing. The key is choosing the right sort of snack to munch down on throughout your day which will in turn help you maintain a healthy lifestyle, curb those sugary cravings to make you feel satisfied until dinner time and boost your nutrient intake.
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Speaking to The Express, Fitness coach and TV personality Joe Wicks revealed his go-to snacks to help him stay fuller for longer - and it's cheap, easy and doesn't require much preparation at all.
"I don't snack loads but if I do it's fruit, like apples and bananas." The Lean in 15 author, 36, also said: "Sometimes I'll make homemade granola bars."
Joe's created loads of his homemade granola bars on his website, the Body Coach, but the simplest one is the 'No Bake Energy Bars'.
The recipe makes 10-12 bars and you can find it here:
With an abundance of goodness including fibre, vitamin C, antioxidants, and potassium alongside having a large percentage of water content, according to Healthline, apples are the perfect snack for those wanting to shed a few pounds - thanks to their low-calorie count - while getting some key nutrients in.
Bananas are also rich in nutrients, vitamins (B6, C and magnesium, for example) and fibre. They are incredible for gut health and can help improve blood sugar levels.
Speaking to The Sun in 2016, the fitness guru said of snacking: "A big tip of mine is to always have a healthy snack with you, to stop you heading to the vending machine – that will never end well.”
He also revealed that a few other firm favourites of his, when it comes to snack time - especially on a workout day - are berries, nuts - "My favourite healthy snacks are nuts. I always snack on fatty things to avoid sugar, so nuts are ideal." - crudities and dip, particularly hummus and, for a bigger snack, he told The Sun he opts for an avocado.
"This is another great source of healthy fats. If I need a big snack to get me through, baked egg in half an avocado is the ultimate [snack]."
And while snacking is great to help you fuel your day along, the Body Coach, as Joe is also known, who's mission is to make the world "fitter, healthier and happier" - he's recently finished his family-friendly PE with Joe workout tour - maintains a healthy diet with a consistent three meals a day and if hunger should strikes, there's nothing wrong with a small snack to keep you going.
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