When it comes to healthy eating or trying to lose weight, the words “snacking” often have a negative connotation. You’ll often hear phrases such as “My problem is that I snack between meals” or “I need to stop snacking during the day or at night”, but the truth is that snacking isn’t the problem, it’s what you’re snacking on that is the real problem. Snacks are a great way to help balance your blood sugar throughout the day, keep your energy levels up, and add extra nutrients and protein to your diet. The trick to healthy snacking is firstly being conscious of what you are putting into your body between meals. Planning your snacks ahead of time gives you the opportunity to see where the gaps in your diet are and then fill them in with something healthy. For example, if you have a mid-afternoon slump, or you need something light before heading to the gym, then you might want to include a snack with a good balance of protein and natural sugars such as fruit, dates, nuts or your favourite Xcell protein shake. Or, if you’re planning a mid-morning snack for your little one’s lunch box, raw veggie sticks with hummus dip might be a better option. Preparing snacks in advance make it easy to grab and eat on the go as well. Whether it’s sliced veggie and fruit sticks with dip, home-made protein bars or your Xcell Protein shake portioned out and ready to grab as you head out or feel your tummy grumbling. Be size conscious too.  Instead of eating the whole tray of protein bars or the whole bag of apples, be aware of how much you are eating between meals and try to ration these portions. Below are five key tips for healthy snacking followed by a yummy Goji berry protein bar recipe.

• Avoid any added sugars. Choose to sweeten snacks naturally with dates, honey or xylitol.
• Go raw wherever possible. Whether it’s a quick smoothie, raw date balls or veggie sticks, raw foods often hold more nutrients.
• Never snack without a protein. Protein helps to balance your blood sugar, feed your body and feed your brain.
• Experiment with superfoods. They are highly nutritious and easy to add to just about anything!
• Lastly and most importantly, avoid processed junk-food snacks at all cost! It might seem easy and convenient to grab something on the go but you’ll be doing your body more harm than good.

  GOJI BERRY PROTEIN BARS These bars are vegan-friendly (depending on which protein powder you use), sugar-free and suitable for the whole family. An ideal addition to lunch boxes, eaten as a snack, on the go or before a race, PLUS they are really easy to make.   Ingredients:    1 cup pitted dates 4 scoops of your favourite Xcell Protein powder, try our Xcell Power Protein or our Xcell Re Build ½ cup goji berries ¼ cup almond butter ¼ cup pumpkin or sunflower seeds ½ cup gluten-free oats ¼ cup coconut chips 1 tbsp water (or freshly squeezed lemon juice) Directions: Soak the goji berries and dates in warm water for about 15 minutes, drain them and add them to a food processor with the remaining ingredients. Process until the ingredients start to stick together, press into a 25 x 10 dish and refrigerate for about an hour. Cut into squares and enjoy!