Snacks for Cravings and Pre-exercise Energy
Wise Snacking
Many people believe that snacking is bad, because they snack on glazed doughnuts, candy bars, cookies, colas, and other lacklustre choices that fail to offer the nutrients needed for optimal performance. If this sounds like you, remember: Just as a car needs gasoline and spark plugs to function, your body needs calories (gas) and the vitamins, minerals, and proteins (spark plugs) found in wholesome foods to function well. If you want to have quality workouts, high energy, and good health, you need to fuel your body with quality calories. You can do this by thinking second lunch instead of sweet snack.

Some people try not to snack because they believe that eating between meals is sinful and fattening. The truth is that snacking is important. Active people tend to get hungry at least every four hours (no kidding, I can testify to that), so even if you have breakfast at 0800 and lunch at noon, your body will still want a snack by 1600, if not sooner. If you will be exercising in the afternoon (cough), you need added fuel to energize your workout. Snacking is good for you and your workouts, and you should plan it as part of your sports diet. (No complaints with that…)

Snacking is important
Most active people need and should eat snacks to keep them fuelled throughout the day. The snack also prevents extreme hunger that commonly leads to extreme cravings for sweets and other such treats. By snacking on grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods from the base of the food pyramid, you’ll be able to curb hunger and be content to enjoy carrots rather than carrot cake, and apples rather than apple pie.

When and if you choose to snack on sweets and treats, be sure to eat only a small amount from the tip of the pyramid, after you have climbed to the top by first eating basic foods. Otherwise, your diet will end up the shape of an upside-down pyramid that topples your health and sports performance.

Appropriate pre-exercise snacks benefit optimal performance by preventing dehydration and maintaining normal blood sugar levels. You should consume adequate pre-exercise fluids and carbohydrates, as tolerated by your body. In general, most active people can enhance their performance with 200 to 300 calories of carbohydrates within and hour or two before the workout.

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