Win the Snack Attack: 17 Healthy Snacks to Keep You Trim

(FeatureSource) Rummaging through the cupboard in search of a healthy snack? Don’t let nighttime nibbles add extra pounds. Instead, curb cravings with munchies guaranteed to satisfy hunger and keep you slim.

“Eating for optimal weight and health doesn’t have to be a difficult task,” says weight loss guru Carson Burke, author of “Thin Lies Within: 6 Universal Principles of Weight Loss and Well Being” (1st Books Library, $22.95, www.thinlieswithin.com.). “You just need to learn which foods are nutritional powerhouses and which are nutritionally bankrupt.”

A nationally recognized weight management and lifestyle consultant, Carson Burke’s unique strategies for losing weight and staying fit have helped hundreds of clients reach and maintain their weight-loss goals.

Unlike other weight-loss consultants, Burke explores the physical, mental and spiritual motives that drive overeating, inactivity and the powerlessness to change. Her innovative holistic approach provides a fresh, effective and comprehensive plan for losing weight and improving life.

In her practice, Burke sees many clients struggle with snacking. When zapped with the snack attack, Burke says to stop and determine if your body is really in need of food and energy. Ask yourself two questions: “Am I really hungry?” and “Why do I want to eat right now?”

If you really are hungry, avoid the temptation to indulge in “bad” snacks (like candy bars, chips or doughnuts). Keep the refrigerator stocked with fresh fruits and veggies, and fill the pantry with rice and grains.

“Cook large bags of frozen vegetables and bake extra white and sweet potatoes,” says Burke. “Keep canned beans on hand to utilize as a quick, great source of protein.”

Here Burke shares 17 of her favorite snacks, all guaranteed to curb your cravings without adding extra pounds. Stock them at home, and when possible, at work.