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5 Healthy Energy Snacks to Get You Through the Mid-Afternoon Slump

5 Healthy Energy Snacks to Get You Through the Mid-Afternoon Slump: "5 Healthy Energy Snacks to Get You Through the Mid-Afternoon Slump
June 5th, 2009 (2:00pm) Simon Mackie 5 Comments

It’s a familiar scenario for web workers — you’re desperately trying to get through your work before the end of the day but by mid-afternoon you’re feeling lethargic, low on energy and craving a snack to help you get through the afternoon."
Sugary snacks and junk food will give you a quick short-term boost but will lead to a crash just as quickly. I like to keep some healthy snacks within easy reach of my desk so I don’t get tempted to satisfy my cravings with sugar.

Here are five of the healthy snacks that I like to eat to help me get through the mid-afternoon slump.

Fresh fruit and berries. Apples, bananas and oranges are all tasty and bursting with carbs for energy, vitamin C and antioxidants. Why not make a small fruit salad? Berries are also great and contain even higher concentrations of antioxidants.

Seeds and nuts. Seeds and nuts are great as they are high in fiber and protein, which will make you feel full. I especially like walnuts and almonds. Walnuts are also high in omega-3 fatty acids, which help your brain to function. Beware, though — nuts are high in calories, so only take a small handful. This is the one snack I won’t leave within reach of my desk as it’s too easy just to keep grabbing handful after handful because they’re so tasty!

Plain nonfat yogurt (or soy yogurt). Yogurt is a great snack: low in fat, rich in protein that will help you feel full, with plenty of carbs for energy. Try sprinkling a little granola on top if you need something even more satisfying.

A bowl of oatmeal. Oatmeal is a good snack because it slow to digest, so you feel full for longer. Eating oatmeal can also lower blood cholesterol, reducing your risk of heart disease. If you don’t like oatmeal, a bowl of healthy breakfast cereal (perhaps with some yogurt or nonfat milk) will also provide fiber, carbs and vitamins.

Popcorn. Yes, you heard that right. Popcorn is a whole grain and high in fiber. Buy low-fat microwave popcorn, don’t add butter or salt — and stick to small servings.

What healthy snacks do you munch on to get over the mid-afternoon slump?

Denial no more

No more excuses! There simply is no acceptable reason for me to not stick to a diet. It's all in changing my mindset.

Yes, there maybe valid reasons why it is harder to lose weight like my age and taking medications that promote weight gain. Yes, those are the truth. And they are reasons why it it harder. That is the truth of the situation. But they no longer are MY TRUTH.

MY TRUTH is the lie I have believed in the past that this it is the reason why I can not lose weight.

They no longer are excuses for why I can not lose weight. It may take longer and it may be harder to lose than when I was 18. I may have to scale back my expectations in terms of The Holy Grail. You know the goal weight, THE number....

I may have to scale back my expectations in terms of setting smaller goals to work to for weight loss. There is no shame is small goals. There is "shame" in no goals at all.

Without goals there will be no changes. Goals are the road map of change.

Contemplative focus:

Goals must never be from your ego, but from problems that cry for a solution.

Robert H. Schuller
1926-, American Minister (Crystal Cathedral), Author, Social Leader
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Healthy Eating & Diet: Eating Essentials

Healthy Eating & Diet: Eating Essentials: "Eating Essentials

Time to make some changes in your diet? Learn all about the food guide pyramid, remarkable vitamins, the best super foods, calorie requirements, and more.

Balancing Act

Climbing to the Top of the Food Pyramid

The new food pyramid gives you the best choices for your busy lifestyle. Learn why getting closer to the guidelines is a good step in the right direction

Whole Grains: We’re Not Talking Cardboard

How to select whole-grain foods packed with fiber and vitamins, plus easy ways to fit more whole grains into your diet."

Fruit: From Apples to Watermelon

Learn all about fruits, how many servings you need daily, and what fruits can do to boost your health.

Meats and Beans: Not Your Mama’s Protein

Discover the different types of protein foods included in the meats and beans group. Find out how much you need daily from this group depending on your age, sex, and physical activity.

Milk, Yogurt and Cheese: Dairy Is Your Friend

Learn about the different types of dairy products that are high in calcium and low in fat. Discover how many servings you and your family need each day.

Oils: The Good and the Bad

Find out if you are eating healthy fats or unhealthy fats. Learn more about healthy oils and how many servings you need daily.

Eating by the New Food Guide Pyramid

Learn all about the different food groups and calorie and portion sizes you and your family need each day.

ABS Lights - warning signs of brakes gone bad or a symbolic of something else

The brake warning light came on my car today. This can only mean one thing : an expensive repair and a car that is not safe to drive, so I have to do something about it now. Sigh.

So let's try to turn this around into something positive. Instead of it being a situation that creates intense panic- let's diffuse the panic and deal with the fear.

Let's suspend reality for 30 seconds here and say the ABS light coming on is symbolic warning sign that correlates to fear of financial stress. Since the light on my dashboard has captured my attention, what am I supposed to learn from and change in this situation? There's that stinkin' fear again creeping into my consciousness......

The deeper meaning behind the light coming on reveals fear of financial stress and causes me much distress. In fact, I am consumed with worry--NOT ON THE ROAD TO FINANCIAL PEACE right now, are we?

So face the fear. OK.

Fear could be defined as FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL.

Well, what is the false evidence? What exactly am I afraid of?

Answer: Not having the money to pay for it and wiping out my savings as my small savings accounts offers me a tiny measure of security. My security is gone with the zero balance in my savings account. That is really what I am afraid of - loss of security.

What is the false evidence? I would have to say it is because I am seeking security in the ability to accrue savings, which should be replaced with a security in God's provision for me.

Contemplative Focus:

Who we are never changes. Who we think we are does.

Mary S. Almanac
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Face the Fear

Fear and Faith

Two polar opposites. It is impossible to be full of faith and fear at the same time.

I have faith that my future can be one of financial peace. But to be fully confident of that, I have to face my fear.

What am I fearful about? What is any one fearful about right now?

The economy. Job security. The expenses being greater than the income in my budget.The unplanned for expense that always seems to creep up no matter how carefully I plan.....

The way to manage my fears is to trust that God will take care of me, be confident in my ability to manage my resources to keep within in my budget and just relax.

After all, the beginning of anxiety is the end of faith.

Contemplation Focus:

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.

George E. Mueller
1918-, American Engineer
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Poverty Mentality

How do the rich think?

What's it like to not have to worry about money? What do rich people do the day before payday? Do they open their wallets and look at the emptiness of it like the rest of us do?

I am learning what rich people think like. So far I have learned:

• they don't accrue debt
• they pay cash for their cars by saving up for them
• they are frugal
• they shop carefully-looking for the best price
• they plan their spending before they spend their money, every dollar gets a designated category
• they understand the concept of saying "no" financially-DISCIPLINE
• they are not impulse buyers

I will observe carefully to see what else I can learn from a rich person. I am sure there is more I can learn to change a poverty mentality. I never really realized it before-rich people and poor people think about and interact with money in totally different ways.

I want to think like a rich person!

Contemplation focus: "Poverty is a state of mind." Dave Ramsey