10 Healthy Snacks for Women Watching their Weight

Do you remember the days when you could down a whole bag of potato chips and not worry about your waistline? Unfortunately, those days are behind us. As we age, our metabolism tends to slow down and uncontrollable sugar cravings seem to spike. To keep from gaining weight we must make adjustments in our dietary habits.

A common mistake made by women watching their weight is unhealthy snacking. Americans snack for various reasons: maybe you’re stuck at a desk job, maybe you don’t pre-plan the grocery list, or maybe you’re simply tempted by the wrong foods. It is important to remember that you are in control of what goes into your body -- overcoming the urge to snack when you are not hungry is simply a matter of self discipline. Keep in mind that your body is unlikely to store food as fat if you limit eating to the times when you are physically hungry.

When snacking, a useful tip is to avoid starchy high-glycemic index (GI) foods. These snacks tend to provide empty calories which raise your blood sugar very quickly and leave you craving even more sugary snacks. Examples of high GI foods include potatoes, corn, carrots, Gatorade, bagels, white bread, corn flakes, ice cream, bananas and raisins.
Try these 10 healthful snack suggestions listed below. Reaching for these snacks instead of empty calories is a good way to prevent health problems.

String Cheese:
Serving Size: 2 pieces (160 calories)
Who said you can’t play with your food? Two string cheese sticks make a great snack with crackers or with a glass of V8. String cheese has as much calcium as half a glass of milk, which provides one-fourth of your daily recommended calcium intake. The American Dietician Association recommends the average women intake 1200 milligrams of calcium each day. Calcium is a necessary for your body; it does all sorts of important things, including strengthening and sustaining your bones and teeth, helping you avoid blood clots, and regulating your heart beat.

Apple
Serving Size: 1 medium size, (90 calories)
“An apple a day will keep the doctor away." Truthfully it takes more than just one daily apple to keep you fit, but it is certainly a step in the right direction. Apples are tasty, easy to transport, low in calories and a great mouth freshener. Apples are also a great source of fiber, which helps control high cholesterol and regulate the digestive system. It is recommended you eat the apple with the skin to increase fiber content. Three servings of any fruit every day is a healthy way to keep your fiber level stable.