My mom is a junk food junkie. That may explain my major weight gain over the formative years of my life; secretly unwrapping that little package of cellophane delight to soothe my bruised emotions was a thrill for an emotionally-stressed teenager.
Today, munching is a regular habit for lots of people. How often have you heard: “I’ve got the munchies”? My mom still says it.
The food industry has made big business out of the love of munching – just take a walk down the potato chip aisle, if you’re in any doubt. There are so many varieties of chips and crunchy-munchy-style snacks that it takes time to figure things out. Unusual flavours appeal even more to the evolved tastebuds of today – cajun, barbecue, lime, sour cream and onion, wasabi – and finding old-fashioned plain is proving increasingly difficult.
There’s no doubt that munching may have certain medicinal effects. It can calm us down when stressed, soothe the ego when upset, fill the void when lonely and distract us from the cause of problems. Munching provides a rhythm that can bring calm to a tired executive at the end of a busy day and mindless munching, while deep in thought and thinking things over and over, seems to add to the rumination.
On the down side, sodium, fat and calories are key components in munchy-style snack foods. Choosing low-sodium, baked, low-fat or no-fat options makes sense, but be aware that calories are still usually fairly high. The big-bag purchase also increases the chances of over-munching. Lifestyles’ recommends learning the language of label reading to ensure you make the best purchase for you and buy single-sized munchy-style foods – a smart move for those tempted to eat to the bottom of the bag.
Shop wisely and purchase foods that provide nutrition and real meals, foods that sustain energy and support in weight loss and weight management. Snack food prices have risen substantially over the past few years.
Smart shopping provides more value for your dollar. Add munchy-crunchy style snacks to your shopping cart as treats.
In October, join me for supermarket shopping tours and product education at Hurley’s supermarket.
Donna Mitchell is a lifestyle consultant specialising in weight management and self-help. E-mail for more information on how to participate at [email protected]
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