When someone is trying to lose weight, snacking can seem like a slippery slope. However, a well-balanced, nutritious snack can help him control hunger between meals and may also help him eat less overall.
But highly processed snacks, such as potato chips, aren’t among the best choices for achieving your weight loss goals.
Timing plays a pivotal role
According to EatingWell, if a person likes to snack and effectively helps with weight loss, they will also need to consider timing when planning their snacking strategy, because snacking can play a fundamental role in what they eat. For example, people who snack earlier in the day are more likely to choose fruit and dairy products. In contrast, according to the 2022 Food and Health Survey conducted by the International Food Information Council, evening snacks typically range from sweet or savory foods.
The best snack
Hummus is the number 1 snack option. In a 2020 study published in the journal Nutrition, people who ate an followingnoon snack of hummus and a pretzel reported feeling less hungry than they did when they did, compared to eating a granola bar (both were 240 calories). Hummus was such a powerful appetite suppressant that it helped study volunteers snack less later in the evening, reducing their total daily intake by 120 calories compared to when they ate the granola bars.
Hummus advantages
A snack made with chickpeas is an easy way to digest more slowly digesting fiber throughout the day. According to the USDA, just ½ cup of chickpeas provides nearly 4 grams of fiber, which is regarding the same as an entire bowl of oatmeal. Whereas, half a cup of chickpeas provides nearly 5 grams of these beneficial proteins.
blood sugar levels
Chickpeas have a low glycemic index (only 28 out of 100, according to a 2022 study), which means that eating them is unlikely to cause a spike in blood sugar. These findings explain why volunteers had lower blood sugar levels. In the study following eating hummus versus granola bars.
High percentage of water
Research shows that water-rich foods such as soup, salad, fruits and vegetables provide a faster feeling of fullness, which helps you eat less food overall. With a water content of over 59%, chickpeas are one of the healthiest choices.
Great combination
Although chickpeas contain a lot of great nutrients, you should pay close attention to certain factors for better satiety and nutrition, such as combining it with red pepper slices, cucumber pieces, carrots or radishes. You can eat a few pieces of whole wheat bread.
