Today is a time when the world is getting fatter than ever and interestingly, food manufacturers are hunting for ways to get consumers to eat constantly. Most of us snack a lot like when waiting for our bus, or me while writing this article. The idea of grazing, or eating small amounts of food every few hours to maintain your energy, can be fine for people who are careful about choosing healthy foods and who keep track of what they are consuming. Food manufacturers argue that they are only looking to satisfy this growing group of health-minded grazers but also provide a healthier alternative to the standard calorie- and fat-laden burger and fries.

But how many of us opt for healthy snacking? The most easily accessible foods sold in grazing form are high in fats, sugar or both and tend to be sold in large portions. A travel pack of mini cookies, for instance, can contain 500 or 600 calories, as many as a full meal. The truth is that more times you eat during the day, the more opportunity there is to overeat.

Eating like amnesiacs happen when a person sits at a table, and he or she often ends up eating less and more slowly. Besides, snacking while you are distracted can be dissatisfying. When you eat mindlessly, you don’t get in touch with hunger and satiety signals and the food may not register in your system. Food alone does not deliver satiety. It is more of getting conscious of consuming it that helps as discern when we have had enough.

If you know you always want a midday snack, plan ahead and pack a healthful one. Not only does this prevent you from grabbing calorie-dense crud from the closest source, but the act of planning raises your awareness of what you eat. Avoid eating during multitasking. It is tough to make every meal memorable, but try to make one meal a day an experience. Ultimately, it is about control. It is not a question of good or bad. It is a question of choice. It is up to us to make the healthier choice. So next time you are grabbing on the snack, make the healthier choice.

SOME SMART SNACKING TIPS
1. Take 30 seconds to throw some healthy cereal into a small container, as the fiber and sheer volume of a bowl of cereal will keep you satisfied longer than a chocolate bar.
2. Try a cup of ready-to-serve broth-based and not creamy soup. Foods with high water content can keep you feeling full.
3. Instead of bread, exchange it with an apple or a few nuts.
4. Sweet Fruits like mango are good to curb your sweet tooth.
5. Avoid diet snacks because even though they claim to be fat free, they all do contain some oil.
6. Don’t have hard and fast rules and don’t ban food completely. Once in a while indulge yourself without feeling the guilt but don’t make it a regular exercise.