Do you fight food cravings but feel guilty for snacking? Snacking doesn't have to be off-limits when you're trying to eat healthy or lose weight. In fact, snacking can be an important part of your diet if you know how to make the right choices.

Better Bites

When you get a snack-craving look for snacks that pack a big nutritional punch. Not only are they better for you, but they may help you feel more full than your normal snack would. Here are a few ideas:

Crunchy Snacks

Apples and breadsticks

Carrot, celery, or green pepper sticks

Zucchini circles

Unsalted rice cakes

Munchy Snacks

Unsalted sunflower seeds

Whole-grain bread or toast

Cherry tomatoes

Plain yogurt

Sweet Bites

Thin slices of angel food cake

Frozen bananas or grapes

Raisins

Fresh Fruit

When to Eat

Three regular meals a day? Five smaller ones? Which is better and where do snacks fit in? Choose what works best for you. The main goal is to not overeat. Some people find it easier to control the amount they eat with four or five small meals a day. Eating just once or twice a day may lead to overeating because you are hungry.

Healthy snacking doesn't have to mean boring, tasteless food. There are plenty of good-for-you choices with loads of flavor. Visit http://www.heartcheckmark.org for some heart-healthy ideas.

Courtesy of Family Features and the American Heart Association