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Food for Fitness: David Grounds shares tips on healthy snacking

posted by ChickSpeak
Sunday, June 6, 2010 at 8:33pm CDT

Bikini season has open! You may be trying to find an exercise regime to follow to make yourself look as fit as possible. However, exercise is only part of looking and feeling your best. It is important to eat a healthy diet every day, and there are many diet plans on the market to follow. However, I wondered what types of foods are great to snack on that help you to feel full yet keep you from being bloated.

ChickSpeak spoke with Dennis Grounds, a personal trainer and life coach, and creator of Training Grounds for Life about what to snack on while you are out and enjoying the sun. Grounds being one of the most sought after trainers in Los Angeles, he combining cardio circuit, functional and core training, Pilates and certified life coaching. Training Grounds for Life is an exclusive, luxury studio in Los Angeles where Grounds gets to the “core” of the matter, helping clients to strengthen the core of their bodies as well as the core of their minds.

Getting the chance to speak with him about what to snack on, he shared a couple of really simple and easy tips!

ChickSpeak:What are some foods that women can eat while on the beach/pool that will help them feel full yet keep them from looking and feeling bloated, heavy, and uncomfortable?

Dennis Grounds: Best foods to snack on are raw vegetables and sugar free Jell-O!

Water, water, water!

These foods are low in complex carbs that help decrease bloating. Raw vegetables are a great source of various vitamins and minerals, and they are full of fiber that aids in regulation of the bowels. This helps keep that uncomfortable bloated feeling at bay, not mention it helps you to feel full for longer keeping you from over-snacking.

Sugar-free Jell-O is very low in calories and contains no fat. It is a source of protein, and with a surplus of flavors to choose from it helps to satisfy a sweet craving.

Water is essential to life. Making up the majority of your body, it is important to replenish this natural element. Water hydrates your body, and also aids in making you feel fuller. Whenever you think you may be hungry, drink water. You may be in need of hydration and mistaking it for hunger. So bottoms up!

“Truth is there really are no shortcuts to a healthy lifestyle. It is done on a daily basis for maintenance and is a lifestyle behavior just like brushing your teeth or taking a bath. Also we must not only focus on external benefits. There are internal benefits such as a healthy heart, organs, and strong bones” says Grounds.

Happy snacking!

Fatima Meadows attends Appalachian State University. Water is always her drink of choice, and cherry Jell-O is her favorite. A special thanks goes out to Dennis Grounds for his helpful tips!