Gracefoods

We love snacks don’t we? Yes we do. We love that they’re handy, tasty and filling. Snacks are defined as “a light meal; an item of food eaten between meals” by Wiktionary. Snacks are the food item we turn to between breakfast and lunch, late afternoon before dinner and at night right before bed. When we think snacks, chips, biscuits, cookies and cheese curls come to mind. Some people also use fruit as snacks.

Why are snacks so popular? Well, snacks usually don’t need preparation; they are ready to eat. At various times during the day when you’re just not quite ready for the big meal a snack is the perfect food. This is why snacks are taken to work and eaten at lunch, they’re ‘ready already.’

Snacks are also easy to carry around because they’re often made for one serving. This also makes them ideal for your car and handbag. Since snacks are usually sweet or salty, they are tasty, and almost never fail to excite your taste buds.

Of course, snacks can be bad for you? Many snacks have high concentrations of sugar, salt or fats, making them bad for your health. Sweet snacks contribute to cavities and diabetes, while an excess of salty snacks can lead to heartburn and high blood pressure. Weight gain is another downside to eating too many snacks. So it is important to choose healthy snacks when you’re ready to binge.

Aside from the negative health effects, snacks can also be habit forming. Many kid who grow accustomed to eating snacks frequently give trouble when it is time to eat their “real” meals such as dinner which provide them with much needed nutrients. Such children need parental oversight and discipline to keep their eating habits in check.

In sum, snacks are good for you when you choose carefully, but there are downsides to watch out for. The best option is to balance your snack consumption. We’re sure you know the old adage about too much of anything not being good. So enjoy your snacks in moderation.