Serves: 5

The "three squares a day" crowd is getting trampled by grazers. More and more people, especially kids an teenagers, are snacking. That can be a good thing. Snacking is a great way to fuel your body throughout the day with mini-meals and avoid binge eating later on. Heres how:

- Stock the pantry and refrigerator with healthy foods. If the chips and dip aren't there, they're out of sight and, hopefully, out of mind.

- Watch portion amounts. Instead of eating crackers, popcorn and other munchies directly out of the bag, pour a certain amount into a seperate container. Pay attention to eating
while you're eating. If you snack mindlessly while watching TV or doing some other activity, it's easy to overeat.

- Take a look at your overall diet, comparing it with what experts recommend you "should have" for good health. Are you low in fruits, vegetables, whole grains? Slip whichever
foods you're lacking into your snacking plan.

Many snacks fall into two categories: chips or candy. Here are some options for that standard fare:

Instead of Try Benifits

Potato Chips Whole grain ready to-eat Save 10 grams of fat plus get a good
(snack-pack size) cereal mixed with dried fruit dose of fiber and lots of vitamins and
minerals

Baked tortilla chips with salsa Vitamin C, potassium and lycopenes
(cancer-preventing substances found
in tomatoes)

Breadsticks and string cheese Calcium and protein

Candy bar Fat-free yogurt (any flavor) with Save at least 10 grams of fat plus get
(regular size) fruit and a few chocolate chips one-fourth of your daily calcium
needs plus other nutrients and fiber.

Ready-to-eat pudding Calcium and potassium

Applesauce with animal Save at least 10 grams of fat.
crackers or fat-free vanilla
wafers

From "Betty Crocker's Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol Cooking Today." Text Copyright 2005 General Mills, Inc. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

More Recipes from the Betty Crocker's Low-Fat, Low-Cholesterol Cooking Today Cookbook:
-THE SNACK ATTACK
Baked Tortilla Chips
Cheesy Ranch Potato Skins
Chewy Pizza Bread
Chipotle-Black Bean Dip
Fresh Garden Salsa
Honey Spice Pretzels
Hot Crab-Artichoke Dip
Maple-Glazed BBQ Meatballs
Parmesan Puffs With Marinara
Savory Popcorn Mix
Smoked Salmon Pinwheels
Tomato Bruschetta With Basil Spread
Vegetable Pot Sticker
Zippy Chicken Drummies