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Snacking Tips by Matthew Portofino

By now, you should have a decent grip on how the South Beach Diet operates. You understand at least, that you are urged to make good decisions in food selection and to avoid certain foods that prevent you from losing weight. This is the one principle that drives the diet: food selection. It isn't about avoiding calories or starving yourself, you are actually encouraged to eat when you are hungry.

This involves snacking. While eating the usual 3 meals a day - breakfast, lunch and dinner - you should be including snacks (typically 2 per day, in between meals).

This helps in a variety of ways. For instance, hunger is probably the biggest adversary in losing weight. You can avoid eating all you want, but eventually your body will take over and force you to binge eat. Even if you fight it off even longer, you will be hurting yourself and making it difficult to get healthy again.

Also, it helps curb the desire to go off the diet in search of something to feed a craving you may be having. When you deprive your body of calories and/or foods you enjoy immensely, it becomes more and more hungry for either the specific food you're craving or just for calories in general. By taking small amounts of food in between meals helps your body feel satisfied, and also keeps your body's engines burning at full speed.

It is not a concession of the diet to allow snacks, it is in the best interest of helping you succeed in weight management. Pay attention to the lists of foods that are allowed, you can't just snack on anything. But you can eat foods that taste great and that help your body lose weight and keep it off.