Snack Time Done Right

Pop quiz! It’s 3 ‘o clock in the afternoon. Do you fiesta or siesta?

For many of us, this would be the perfect time to reach for a light snack. But some might worry that eating in between meals can lead to weight gain. Here’s the good news, though—as long as you snack smart, you can have your cake and eat it too!

Eat More to Gain Less?

We’re talking about frequency here, not quantity! Skipping that snack might actually leave you hungrier due to the prolonged fasting, leading you to overeat at dinner. That’s why experts recommend eating more often throughout the day, but in smaller quantities.

Remember, being hungry is your body’s way of telling you that it’s time to eat, not how much to eat.

Go Savory

Having a healthy afternoon snack is not only good for filling your tummy—it's also essential to keep our body functioning properly.

Fruits are always great options for a healthy afternoon snack of course, but there are plenty of savory options too with their own additional benefits. Here are four reasons to go savory:

1. Controls and maintains body weight by keeping hunger at bay and preventing overeating.

2. Keeps your blood sugar levels under control, especially if you choose fiber-rich snacks such as oatmeal.

3. Ensures better heart health, because it reduces the risk of accumulating “bad” cholesterol. For example, a snack like tuna sandwich contains a dose of Omega 3 which is good for the heart.

4. Improves cognitive function, helping you concentrate and pay more attention to the tasks you are doing. Usually, you’ll find these in brain-friendly foods like pumpkin seeds, but there is also a simple reason why snacking helps you concentrate: when you are full, you don't need to think about hunger, right?

Healthy sandwiches, chips, cheese bread, pastries and pies with vegetable fillings, savory cakes with vegetables and even popcorn are among the best savory and healthy afternoon snacks out there.

10 Quick Snacks to Curb Your Hunger, Fast!

We’re sure all this snack talk is making you hungry! Not to worry – we've compiled 10 easy-to-prepare Nestlé Recipes that you can prepare in just 30 minutes or less:

1. Lugaw - Don’t wait for lugaw weather! Whip up a quick batch of this Pinoy fave
2. Savory Pumpkin Soup - Thick soup to warm your belly on cold days
3. Oyster Yakisoba - Delicious noodles draped in sweet oyster sauce
4. Super Sloppy Joes - When it comes to burgers, sloppier is better
5. Baked Mac and 4 Cheese - Not one, not two, but FOUR cheese rule this delightful snack
6. Milky Mango Panna Cotta - A refreshingly sweet snack with mango as the hero
7. Buttermilk-style Fried Chicken - A new take on an ‘ol classic chicken recipe
8. Corn Flakes coated Fish Fingers with Garlic Dip - Who knew cereal and fish could taste so good?
9. Togue Guisado - You can’t go wrong with Togue to-go!
10. Oyster Asian-Style Salad - A fusion of flavors in this light salad that’s heavy on protein