What to Look for When Shopping for Snacks for Weight Loss
Are you trying to find healthy snacks for weight loss? Nutrition labels can seem scary, but if you know what to look for, your snack-hunt time will be cut in half.
Fat-Free Does Not Mean Weight Loss
Buying that fat-free salad dressing may seem like a good idea on the surface because fat = bad, right? Not necessarily. You don’t want to confuse fat-free with weight loss. Fat-free foods usually lack flavor. To combat this, food production companies will add extra sugar and seasonings to make it more flavorful. Adding unnecessary sugar and sodium to your diet can stunt weight loss or even cause weight gain. So don’t just pay attention to the fat content of your foods.
Also—and this might surprise you—not all fat is bad! Monounsaturated fats and Polyunsaturated fats are good for you. They can help lower cholesterol. Look for these fats when you are picking out your healthy snacks instead of only "fat-free" snacks.
Do Calories Matter?
Short answer: no. Do not pick "healthy" snacks based on how few calories they have. A snack with fewer calories is not always healthier for you. It is more important to focus on the quality and types of calories you are eating than the quantity or how many you are eating.
Serving Size is Deceptive
Did you know the serving size for Pop-Tarts is one single Pop-Tart rather than one package? There are 15 grams of sugar in a single Pop-Tart, but the nutrition label will lead you to believe that there are 15 grams in a whole pack. It is important to pay attention to the serving size because you may be overindulging due to deceptive labeling.
Vitamins and Minerals
The percentage of daily value is shown on the nutrition label as “% of DV.” This represents the daily recommendations based on a 2,000 calorie diet. It is a good rule of thumb to pick snacks with a percent of daily value between 10 and 20 percent. Look for vitamins and minerals like Vitamin B, C, and D, Fiber, and protein.
If you’re trying to lose weight, it’s important to focus on what you are putting into your body, not just how much. Portion is important, but so is the quality of that portion. You should not feel guilty about eating larger portions of some foods. Your focus should be on the quality of the food you are eating. What is most important is that you eat food that makes you feel good.
If you’re interested in learning more about proper nutrition and weight loss, check out Physicians Weight Loss Centers and see how to start your weight loss journey today. Also, their online Diet Store has plenty of healthy snacks designed to curb hunger and help you lose pounds and inches!
