Snacks for the 2 PM slump

When 2 PM hits, I need a plan. Because if I don't have a plan, I can get myself in trouble pretty quickly. For some reason, no matter how easy it is to eat healthy all day long, 2 PM is my trouble zone. All I want to do is eat, and not an apple. I want carbs, preferably the simple kind, and I want lots of them!

That's why I started making sure I have fresh veggies in my fridge, chopped and at the ready, the crunchier the better. Nuts will sometimes do it too, as long as I pair them with piece of fruit. In a pinch, I'll have a Kashi bar, but even that can get out of hand.

Newsweek has a few suggestions for feeding the afternoon slump, especially if you're like me and would rather reach for the nearest candy bar. They include:

• Olive oil (on whole wheat bread, or just a few olives on a cracker)
• Nuts
• Low-fat dairy
• Avocado
• Veggies with a small amount of healthy fat
  
  

The idea, of course, is that simple carbs will offer you a quick pick-me-up and a just-as-quick nosedive. But proteins, complex carbs, and a small amount of heart healthy fat will keep you full and energized right up until dinner.