Both! We suggest noshing two or three times a day: about three hours after breakfast, three hours post-lunch and then again after dinner at least an hour before bed, if you're hungry. If you go more than four hours without eating, your blood sugar will drop, leaving you ravenous and prone to overeating at the next meal, not to mention cranky and tired. Choose filling nibbles with at least 3 grams of fiber and 5 g of protein, such as a mix of dried fruit, nuts and whole-grain cereal. Size matters, too. To maintain your weight (you should be eating 1,800 to 2,000 calories a day), have three 200-calorie daily snacks. Those trying to drop pounds (don't dip below 1,600 daily calories!) can enjoy two 200-calorie or three 150-calorie morsels. Snack smart to stay full and focused.
Photo Credit: Terry Doyle
