#30daysnackchallenge 😉 🍎🥑🍋🥒🥕

As I began to plan holiday gifts this year I really wanted to find a theme that would support wellness in the lives of my family and friends. Some may know I’m from a VERY large family and gift giving is a Herculean effort 😂. I’m not going to reveal my ideas, as I know some of them read this…. haha!

I reflected upon the early days my health journey. My Dietician and I would brainstorm which meals could be most impactful to my daily nutrition needs but not completely feel restrictive. Although breakfast needed work as well, snacks became a focus for routine prep. Again, not from a place of restriction but how could we fit in the most nutrients during snack time!

When snacking is done correctly, it can give you a boost of energy between meals, help meet nutrient needs for the day and help keep hunger at bay to prevent overeating at the next meal. And managing your hunger can help you maintain a healthy weight and reach weight-loss goals.
Mayo Clinic

Confession…..I am a snack lady. I pack snacks in the car, purse, road trips, hotel room, work bag….. everywhere! Even in church as grown adults my sister and I have laugh as she always asks “what snack is in your purse” knowing something is in there 😅. Now days, she rolls her eyes when I pull out a fiber one bar, or trail mix instead of candy or sweets LOL.

Here are a few snack ideas from Mayo Clinic:
- To ensure you are being fulfilled, combine carbohydrates, protein and fat for long-lasting, satisfying snacks
  - hard-boiled eggs
  - pouches of seasoned tuna
  - cheese sticks
  - cottage cheese,
  - yogurt with no added sugar, or
  - soups made with lots of vegetables and legumes
  - On road trips (when possible) our family has established a new process to scope out nice rest stops so we can eat our packed food instead of unhealthy options.
- Put fruits and vegetables in easily accessible locations
  - Throw a bag of dried fruit or other snacks in your purse pocket or backpack to take with you out of the house.
  - A lesson learned for me was, you don’t have to avoid frozen and canned(not in heavy syrup).
    - They can be healthy options and easily portioned
- Plan your snacks
  - What do you like to eat? Make a list of various nutrient-rich foods that would work as a snack.
  - Focus on incorporating whole foods, whole grains and low-fat dairy products.
    - Whole fruit or vegetables,
    - air-popped popcorn,
    - fat-free or low-fat yogurt, and
    - nut mixes are all great options.
- Before making significant diet changes, it’s good to consult your Doctor or Provider.

As we chatted about our goal, I realized food prep has always been a value I cared about with my Son, just not myself. We committed very early as parents to make his baby food then pack his lunch each day for school. We wanted to ensure he had access to nutrients we could afford. At the time we didn’t make the same commitment for ourselves. Being more conscious I now realize our nutrition is just as important as his.

So… here’s the challenge I would 🖤💛 others to join me!

Treat yourself to a reusable small cooler bag or snack bag that makes you want to reach for it!
Set 2 days a week you eat your prepped snacks .
Choose 2 snack ideas that will keep well in the refrigerator ,
- My favorite ideas on Pinterest are found under “Adult Lunchables” searches,
Choose a day to prep your snacks for the week
- Sunday prep days are my jam! Popping in some tunes or a funny show while prepping is super rewarding!
Put it on your calendar as a visual cue
Lastly, tell a friend
- Someone that will help you stick to the challenge.