Don't forget the snack factor

If there's one trend I am very aware of lately, it's the prevelance of snacks in eating plans designed for weight-loss. Snacking used to be frowned upon, a way to over-indulge without knowing it. But it's now thought that snacks are the way to long-term weight-loss, because they can ease that mid-day hunger and keep you from over-eating at dinner. That's the premise behind yet another diet, the Snack Factor Diet, which to me sounds like a combination of the 5-factor Diet (because of the snacking involved) and the South Beach Diet (because fruit and alcohol are banned in the first phase.)

I don't think you need to buy into this diet to understand that snacking is important,as long as it's healthy snacking. Think some fruits and veggies, cottage cheese, low-fat yogurt or a handful of nuts. Deprivation doesn't work, especially if you're ravished by dinner time.