Healthy snacks for Busy Moms

Do you know this feeling? In the morning you were rushing around to get the kids ready before the nanny or babysitter came in or to get them ready for school or daycare and completely forgot or simply didn't have time to eat a bite yourself? Then 10 o'clock comes around, you're starving, and you reach for the donuts by the coffee machine? Some women go through the entire day without a mere thought of food. Others need meals and snacks around the clock to avoid making spontaneous calorie-laden blunders and to keep energy up. No matter what your eating style, it's important to snack sensibly.
     
Here are a few tips to fill nutritional voids and keep you on track for your daily schedule and calories:

No Time for Breakfast?
If there's no time for breakfast, choose a snack that will jump-start your metabolism:

• 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter with half a banana on whole-wheat bread
• Fruit smoothie with soy or whey protein, plain yogurt, flaxseed oil

No Time for Lunch?
When there's no time for a proper lunch, try a healthy, well-rounded snack to meet nutritional needs:

• 1 cup vegetable soup with whole-wheat crackers
• 1 hard-boiled egg with 1 cup of celery
• Cottage Cheese and Fresh Fruit
• 2-3 ounces of smoked salmon on a slice of whole-wheat bread and 1 tablespoon light cream cheese

Afternoon Slump?
Drops in sugar levels are to blame for most afternoon slumps, so a good pick-me-up snack is a necessity:

• 1/2 cup trail mix with nuts and dried fruit
• Low fat popcorn
• 1 cup yogurt
• 1 string cheese
• 8 ounces vegetable juice
• 1 cup mixed fresh fruit
  
  

Late-night Catch-up on Bills
Instead of munching on Gold Fish or Pretzels, try a snack that keeps you going but will not prevent you from sleeping when bedtime arrives:

• Decaffeinated green tea with touch of lemon and honey
• 1 small apple
• 1/2 cup baby carrots
• 1 cup frozen blueberries with 1 tablespoon whipped cream
• 1/2 cup frozen grapes
• 1/2 grapefruit with 1 tablespoon natural maple syrup