Simple Snacks
Whether you’re hitting the weights or pounding the pavement, you’re burning energy as you go. Stay prepared for the action by fueling up with snacks between meals. Bite into these simple suggestions, served up by San Diego Chargers nutrition consultant Karen Freeman.
Cereal with milk
And not just in the a.m. In fact, Freeman prefers this snack be eaten at night to allow your body time to use and lose what it needs. That’s because some cereals, she notes, are relatively high in fiber, but if you’re used to eating them on a regular basis, they won’t have an adverse effect on your system, meaning you’ll stay regular and avoid stop-and-go bouts during practice.
A single-size box, which offers two to three servings of grain, is a perfect, portable go-to. If you can stomach more volume, Freeman suggests two cups of granola with milk, which will provide seven servings of grain; and, she says, “it’s better than any bar you could get in a very natural way.”
Chips and dip
Eyein’ something on the salty side? Freeman’s modified version of chips and dip avoids high fat, but does not sacrifice taste. She recommends tortillas dunked in canned refried black beans. “It’s a great quick snack that’s really easy, and faster than Taco Bell,” Freeman says, adding that the combo is also high in carbs and protein.
Fruit bowl
Hit it hard because, as Freeman says, “[Fruit] is a great way to get your carbs and your fluid needs met.”
Try juicy fruits like peaches, which pack an average of 14 grams of carbs each, or a cup of grapes, which offers nearly 27 grams. Another bonus: fruit is easy to pack and leaves little trash.
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Simple Snacks
Whether you’re hitting the weights or pounding the pavement, you’re burning energy as you go. Stay prepared for the action by fueling up with snacks between meals. Bite into these simple suggestions, served up by San Diego Chargers nutrition consultant Karen Freeman.
Cereal with milk
And not just in the a.m. In fact, Freeman prefers this snack be eaten at night to allow your body time to use and lose what it needs. That’s because some cereals, she notes, are relatively high in fiber, but if you’re used to eating them on a regular basis, they won’t have an adverse effect on your system, meaning you’ll stay regular and avoid stop-and-go bouts during practice.
A single-size box, which offers two to three servings of grain, is a perfect, portable go-to. If you can stomach more volume, Freeman suggests two cups of granola with milk, which will provide seven servings of grain; and, she says, “it’s better than any bar you could get in a very natural way.”
Chips and dip
Eyein’ something on the salty side? Freeman’s modified version of chips and dip avoids high fat, but does not sacrifice taste. She recommends tortillas dunked in canned refried black beans. “It’s a great quick snack that’s really easy, and faster than Taco Bell,” Freeman says, adding that the combo is also high in carbs and protein.
Fruit bowl
Hit it hard because, as Freeman says, “[Fruit] is a great way to get your carbs and your fluid needs met.”
Try juicy fruits like peaches, which pack an average of 14 grams of carbs each, or a cup of grapes, which offers nearly 27 grams. Another bonus: fruit is easy to pack and leaves little trash.