Snacking vs. Snacks

When it comes to eating habits, one of the major divides is Foodie vs. Snacker. Do you look forward to your meals where you get to eat your favorite dish? Or do you crave your snacks and savor every bite? Do you like to fill up on your favorite meal or snack during the day on your favorite salty, sweet, crunchy or chocolatey treats? Whether you prefer meals or snacks, even our die-hard foodies have to admit that a delicious On Program snack right when you need it can make your day. 

When it comes to snacks, there is another clear divide – Snacking vs. Snack. Though it doesn’t seem like a huge difference, when you break it down these two words mean something completely different. First of all, “snacking” is an action, it’s a verb. So many clients when they first sign up say that at a certain point in their day before they were on program, they would be “snacking” on whatever is around, whatever is in the office or kitchen, or whatever is leftover from their kids’ plates. We’ve all been there – you just keep eating like a marathon and the truth is, all those little bites add up. This mentality of just eating without thinking and without control is one of the main bad habits that you have to break when you start to eat clean. “Snacking” is continuous, it’s something that you do, not something that you eat – as it should be. 

The word “snack”, on the other hand, is a noun, it’s a singular thing. It has a beginning and an end, it’s measured and it serves a purpose. Innovation approved snacks provide nutrients as well as healthy carbs, fats, and protein – and they feed your body when you need fuel. That’s what eating clean is all about. Being on program means making choices and planning ahead. Your snacks are clear, portioned and planned. Yes, you can still get your salty fix or satisfy your sweet tooth and stay on program, yes you can have 3 snacks and lose weight – the point is that it’s everything in moderation. You not only lose weight when you pick your snacks instead of constant snacking, but you also stop letting cravings control your life. 

There are many reasons why we find ourselves “snacking” – often it is just emotional eating. We are bored or stressed or tired so we look to food to help us. This type of dependance on food is never good. Everything we eat should either be fuel during the week or a treat on our Cheat Day. Because the truth is, snacking won’t make you happy in the long run, it won’t take away your stress (it will probably add to it) and it won’t wake you up without a sugar or caffeine crash later. Another reason we find ourselves “snacking” is because we are busy, rushed or don’t think we have a choice. We are on the go or in a situation where we think we don’t have options. That can mean running errands, traveling, eating out, etc. We feel like we are forced to make decisions we don’t want to make, because of the situation and sometimes because of peer pressure. Our friends and loved ones don’t always know that we feel the need to comprise sometimes when we are around them. But in reality, we often make the wrong choice in these situations because we are looking for a reason to cheat or we are just don’t have the strength to to eat healthy. If these are the choices you make, you have to own up to them and the results that follow. But if you want to be healthy and consistent, you have to seek out the healthy choice and go after it with confidence. 

SNACKING is eating out of control

SNACKS are eating with a purpose 

The choice is yours 

~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick

Innovation Weight Loss and Fitness

8031 Jericho Tpke Woodbury, NY 11797

211 E 43rd Street Manhattan, NY 10019