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Step 1
Understand the glycemic index. Food is assigned a number based on how fast it makes the blood sugar rise once you eat it. The higher the number, the harder it is for the body to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Stable blood sugars help prevent you from overeating and gaining weight back.
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Step 2
Snack on foods with a low glycemic index number most of the time. Foods such as raw vegetables, cheese sticks and some nuts have a glycemic index below 80. That means they cause the blood sugar levels to rise slowly.
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Step 3
Maintain a good ratio. The body needs carbohydrates, protein and fat to work efficiently. A healthy snack should consist of two parts carbohydrates and one part protein. A small amount of fat is also acceptable. Hard boiled eggs, low fat cottage cheese and whole grain crackers topped with peanut butter are good choices.
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Step 4
Keep portion size in mind. A snack is not a meal, so your portions should be smaller. Consider measuring out small portions of nuts, dried fruit and low fat granola and placing them in bags to take with you on the go.
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Step 5
Watch the calorie count. You may not be restricting calories like you did when dieting; however, you don't want to go overboard with calories either. Aim to eat snacks that are between 150 and 200 calories. Keep in mind several types of snack foods are available in small 100 calorie serving packages.
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Step 6
Allow a small treat from time to time. You may understand from losing weight that forbidding certain foods may cause you to binge later on. If you're craving a cookie or piece of chocolate, it may be best to have a small amount to prevent feeling deprived.
