Snacks or Treat? Is there a difference?

I attended a Weight Watchers meeting the other day and was intrigued by the question the leader posed-

" Is there a difference between a snack and a treat?" This question opened up quite a bit of discussion at the meeting and made me think about the quality of the snacks that I eat in addition to my meals.

The purpose of a snack is to provide us with additional nutrition, energy, and fuel. We do sometimes need snacks to help fuel us ( especially kids ) . However, Many "treats" don't meet the criteria.

I'm not even talking about downright sugary, chemical laden treats like donuts, cookies, cake, ice cream. I'm talking about even high sugar fruit- the 1/4 of a watermelon that we can polish off or the bag of cherries, or the sweet but healthier snacks we make at home, fruit flavored yogurt, cereal, or chocolate covered raisins. Yes, fruit is healthy , but it is also high in sugar and can trigger cravings and affect blood sugar.

I recently made a major change in my life. It's the first time ever and even I can't believe I've been doing this for 8 weeks. I gave up eating all sugar and other sweeteners( honey, stevia, maple syrup) AND I gave up eating FRUIT on a regular basis ( I eat a few berries) - I know it sounds crazy, but after reading Dr. Permutter's book Grain Brain I took the jump.

I snack on nuts

Dr. Perlmutter suggests 40-50 carbs a day for optimal brain health. Truthfully, that was very hard to do if you include fruit in the diet. An apple can be over 25 carbs. Now, I've always been a fruit lover, so this was no easy decision. I thought I would try it and go off fruit for a week or two tops.

Well, I have to tell you. I felt so much better without all the carbs from the fruit. My blood sugar seemed more stable, I felt like I could think more clearly ( didn't feel that foggy feeling) and I realized that if I start eating fruit again , I will go back to dealing with all the fluctuations in blood sugar which also stimulates food cravings.

Did I mention that over the past 8 weeks I have not been craving sweets, carbs, etc! That is almost unheard of for me. It's true - it took me about 5 days to " kick the habit" and a few withdrawal symptoms, but then I was on my way!

I'm eating mostly protein, good fats like avocado, coconut oil, olive oil and nuts, and non starchy vegetables like string beans, lettuce, radishes, cucumber, tomato, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, kale, collards, etc. . I include a substantial amount of good fat which is essential for stabilizing the blood sugar. I can't believe that I'm eating so much more fat and loosing weight. I've lost 7 pounds in 5 weeks and have lots of energy and feel terrific ( I exercise on the treadmill for about 45 minutes 5 days week).

Before you jump all over me for the fruit ( I know fruit is healthy) I am eating a very small quantity of berries on occasion( strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries) and I love cherry tomatoes!

So there you have it, I'm eating and snacking on real food that are lower in carbs and I'm feeling energetic , clear minded and happy. So I do have snacks everyday, but I cut out the daily treats!

I will probably start including more fruit in my diet, but right now my cravings are GONE and my moods are so stable and my blood sugar is not shooting up and down.

Did you ever eliminate fruit?

What falls into a snack category?

List of Healthy Snacks that provide nutrients, energy, and fuel.

1. Mozzarella cheese and tomatoes and cucumber

2. vegetable sticks and humus

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