5 Snacks To Beat The 3 O'Clock Slump

It's a few hours after lunch and that late afternoon energy slump is setting in. But don't head for the coffee or the candy machine looking for a boost--there are far healthier snacks that'll energize you without packing on the pounds or keeping you up at night. And better yet, they include foods that contain an unsaturated fat that can help postpone future attacks of the munchies. A few of our favorites:

1. Olive Oil: Sounds crazy, but olive oil is actually full of an unsaturated fat that'll keep you full longer. According to a study recently published in the journal Cell Metabolism, once oleic acid reaches the intestine, it's converted into a hormone that helps fend off the next wave of hunger pangs. Try dipping high-fiber bread in olive oil instead of using butter, or have a couple of olives on crackers, says Jenn Stokols, a registered dietician and the nutritionist at Nova Medical Group in Virginia.

2. Nuts: We all know that almonds, peanuts and walnuts make a great, healthy snack--they contain oleic acid and are full of protein, which provides long-lasting energy and helps build muscles and bones. But go a little crazy--add high-fiber cereals and a couple of sweets to make homemade trail mix, or experiment with nut butters; you can upgrade the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich with almond or even macadamia nut butter.

Keep reading...

Comments

[ObiW]

01:34 AM on 10/27/2008

No caffeine after Noon if you can help it or after 1:00 PM. When you get home, start drinking 1 or 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in 8-16oz of water. That will start the cleaning process of getting rid of all the caffeine and it will help put you to sleep. I've tried this and it works. It also will help keep off about 15-20lbs over the course of the year. But the apple cider vinegar works! I tried chamomile but the vinegar cleans out all the stuff I ate over the course of the day and it might get rid of your headaches. It did mine!

[leftLibertarian]

04:55 PM on 10/25/2008

Double espresso and a nibble or two of dark chocolate works for me.

[TrooAmerican]

11:41 AM on 10/24/2008

After i eat a big lunch of about 2lbs of spaghetti, i always get about ready to pass out at about 2:30pm.
To solve that problem, i usually dig into my snack drawer and pull out a tub of Potroast and Potatoes and carrots, left over from the crockpot and warm that up and snuggle up to it.

Works everytime.
Course i've gained 60lbs in the past 3 months, ....i wonder why? :D

[dreadylocks]

09:34 AM on 10/23/2008

put some vinegar and lemon juice in the olive oil before you dip the bread, it's the best.

[marleysghost]

09:21 PM on 10/22/2008

Ice cream.. Hot fudge sundae. good.

[SouthJerseySteve]

06:39 PM on 10/22/2008

coffee or green tea works for me.

[wm1066]

02:19 PM on 10/23/2008

Do you get a headache if you have coffee on the same day you have green tea?
I tried having coffee in the morning and green tea in the afternoon but got headaches around bedtime, but then I have a sensitive system.