The Benefits of Snacking and Our Favorite Snacks

We’ve all been there. You’re going about your day and suddenly get the urge to munch on something. But you’ve already eaten breakfast and lunch, so what gives?

Turns out things aren’t always as simple as eating three meals a day and calling it good. Sure, being hungry or thirsty can play a role in snacking habits, but there’s more to it.

The Nutrition Source, from Harvard School of Public Health shares a few points on the matter. Turns out snacking motivations can include:

• Social/food culture
• Distracted eating
• Boredom
• Indulgence
• Food insecurity

A lot more complex than just hunger, right?

According to Michigan State University, the key is to plan snacks ahead of time so you don’t overindulge and you make the right decisions. Choose options that are based on the recommended food groups and drink a glass of water with your snacks.

Benefits to Snacking

Snacks often have a bad reputation. Sometimes that’s warranted because people often reach for candy bars or fried treats.

However, snacks can be nutritionally beneficial when done correctly. Here are some tips from Penn State University:

• Avoid empty calories and added sugars.
• Eat whole fruits and colorful vegetables.
• Drink water or milk. 100% fruit juice is okay, but don’t go overboard.
• Lean deli meats and hummus or salsa are good savory choices.
• Consider grains and fiber sources such as whole grain crackers, pita bread, dried fruits, nuts and nut butter.

These suggestions can help you reap the benefits of quality snacking.

Curbs Your Appetite

Are you hungry or are you just craving a flavor? Let’s say you’ve eaten a meal and you find yourself hungry again after a few hours, but you’re not craving anything specific.

If you’re simply craving a flavor, consider whether it’s saltiness or sweetness you’re craving. Harvard suggests that if you’re craving sweets, try fruit or a small amount of dark chocolate. When you’re craving salty or savory, go for a slice of cheese or a serving of roasted chickpeas.

Provides Boosts of Energy

If you snack right, you can get some quick fuel to help carry you to your next meal. Harvard Health Publishing says that the most healthful snacks contain a mix of proteins, carbs and fats.

Our Favorite Snacks

Jack Link’s Zero Sugar Beef Sticks

Beef sticks are an amazing snack, but plenty of people are trying to cut back on sugar these days. No problem at all when you have Jack Link’s Zero Sugar Original Beef Sticks.

These beef sticks have the great smoky and savory flavor people crave, but with no sugar or artificial sweeteners. Made with just 100% beef with 6 grams of protein and 120 calories per serving.

Original Beef Steaks

When you want something dense and satisfying to sink your teeth into, Jack Link’s Original Beef Steak will do the job.

Our 1 oz steaks are thick with a savory seasoned flavor and have 11 grams of protein and 70 calories per steak!

Teriyaki Jerky Pounders

Like the idea of slow-smoked meat marinated with soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic and ginger? Then you’ll love our Teriyaki Beef Jerky.

These sweet and savory slices are super satisfying with 11 grams of protein per serving with 80 calories!

Apple Slices With Nut Butter

Fruits make for great snacks, especially apples. A standard size red delcious apple (about 100-grams) contains around 62 calories and has 14 grams of carbohydrates.

When you add a tablespoon of salted almond butter to your apple, you get an additional 98 calories and 3.36 grams of protein. That’s around 160 calories total in the snack!

Yogurt

Big things really can come in small packages and Greek yogurt is proof. A 156-gram serving of Greek yogurt (approximately 5.5 oz) has 95.2 calories but contains 16 grams of protein and 5.68 grams of carbs. 

Salty Chips

If you’re craving junk food and nothing you can do will stop it, that’s okay. We all have days like that. There’s nothing wrong with having potato chips in moderation.

Just be sure you limit it to the recommended serving size on the bag and try to stick with the meal-to-snack ratio mentioned earlier in this article. To help keep your portions small, avoid eating directly from a multi-serving bag.

If you have only large bowls in your cupboard, invest in a few small ones and commit to filling them only once per snacking session.

Jack Link’s? More Like SNACK Link’s!

When you want a snack that’ll give you big flavor without weighing you down, reach for the Jack Link’s. Our meat snacks contain a smoky flavor with protein to help you fuel up. Shop our products today!