This post is all about making it easier for you to eat nutritious snacks that are also delicious! But first, let’s talk about the best way to utilize “snacks.”

Generally, snacks are eaten between breakfast, lunch, dinner or in the evening to provide a continuation of energy until the next meal. I want you to think of a snack as just that – an energy booster! They can be tailored specifically for pre-workout, post-workout, before bed, after school, first thing in the morning… It all depends on your specific need.

Why can snacks be important? Our bodies are constantly regulating, secreting, pairing and creating. When we start to feel hungry, those are our hormones talking to us. Ghrelin is a hormone that increases our appetite. The longer we go without eating, the more Ghrelin will increase. Once Ghrelin gets so high, it increases our preference for fatty and sweet foods. CUE SNACKS: when you are hungry, eat. Even if it is an hour before dinner. This will prevent you from overeating at dinner as well as craving more sugar and fat.

As soon as you eat or drink (carbohydrate, protein or fat), the hormone Cholecystokin is released to start digestion of your food which then signals a decrease in appetite. At the same time, it signals other body processes that cause you to feel full and use the energy from what you just ate.

Most snacks are smaller than a meal. 100-200 calories is a good place to start if you are feeling “starving” before you eat a meal! Think small portions!

If you have any questions feel free to reach out 🙂

Recipe Links: Layered Bean Dip, Fruit Salad, Zucchini Muffins, 7 Layer Salad

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We have very limited space but we utilized the tables my papa made for our wedding as shelves against the back wall in our kitchen. Then, got curtains to hide what is underneath: trash can, appliance storage…etc. The sifter and spoons were my grandmas so I love having those on display.

We used one of the big photos from our wedding here. I like it because it brings the eyes up to the ceiling and makes the room feel bigger. The YUM letters came from my office at my mom and dads house.

I still change the way it is organized all the time but thought I would snap a pic to show! Hope you all have a great week!