Much to my mom's displeasure I was a grazer.  Eating many little meals throughout the day and not a lot at meal time.  I would sit at the table after everyone had left until I took "two more bites."  The food available to me was usually healthy, so I wasn't filling up on junk food.  I was actually doing what came naturally, listening to my body, eating when I was hungry and stopping when I was full.  I still eat that way and one of the things that I notice the most is that I never get too hungry or too full.  As it turns out, if you're eating the right foods, grazing is extremely beneficial.  Why? 

• It supplies the body with a steady supply of energy keeping insulin levels stable.

• It keeps the body lean.  If grazers never get too hungry, they actually eat less and their bodies are satisfied with less food.

• Stable blood sugar mean stable mood.

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Research also shows that grazers:

• Have less acid reflux.

• Are at a lower risk for cardiovascular risk

• Have less inflammation in their bodies.

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So what does healthy grazing look like?  First, it has the right balance of healthy carbs, proteins, and fats.  Eat high fiber foods, good carbs, and pack in protein with each meal and snack.  Careful not to overgraze, mindlessly snacking on trail mix can cause excess weight gain.  It is important to be mindful of portion control while grazing. Interested in what healthy snacks look like head here.

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