For health conscious individuals and those trying to lose weight – to snack or not to snack – seems to be a rather annoying dilemma. We all love snacking on our favorite foods, but it could get us in trouble if we are not careful.

With so many unhealthy snacks at our disposal, some experts concluded that we are better off not snacking at all - - it is a shame. There is no need for such extremes simply because you are on a diet.

Healthy snacking is not a pipedream. Snacking does not have to mean cheating on your diet. In fact, did you know that it could be easier to stick to your diet if you snack? Why?

Because if you are hungry you need to eat – hunger, the body’s signal that it needs calories – can lead to a sluggish metabolism and sugar cravings. Healthy snacks (no, not fried coke), help to spread your daily calories into 5 to 6 meals.

When you eat smaller meals more often, your body does not try to conserve energy, which often translates into feeling more energetic - - not to mention an added bonus of burning more calories.

The key to healthy snacking is to plan a little ahead, choose foods which you can bring with you anywhere you go. Try a variety of fresh fruits – grapes, apples, nectarines, plums, pears, bananas, tangerines, and berries of all kinds.

If fresh fruits are not available, turn to unsweetened canned fruits. Do not forget about crunchy vegetables – green peppers, celery, carrots and cucumbers are all excellent choices.

As for healthy protein snacks, only the sky is the limit – boiled eggs, beef jerky, nuts, seeds, good quality protein bars, canned sardines, canned salmon, shrimps, maybe some cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese - - be creative and use your imagination.