But what should be in these "mini-meals?"
Look for food combinations that support and balance out what you ate for the previous meal. Remember that post I did about Clean Eating and the Glycemic Index? What did you eat for breakfast - a high GI food, or a low one? Did you eat eggs and fruit for breakfast? Try crackers and a nut butter for your morning mini meal. That will give your blood sugar a bit of a boost to avoid overeating at lunch time. Did you eat a little "bread heavy" at lunch time - perhaps a whole grain sandwich? Grab a piece of fruit and a Greek yogurt in the middle of the afternoon.
Don't worry so much about calories in these mini meals. You are consuming them to keep your blood sugar level, which keeps cravings at bay - and ultimately - keeps you on your Clean Eating path
Some ideas:
*2 hard boiled eggs and a piece of fruit
* a handful of almonds and raisins mixed together
*whole grain crackers and peanut butter
*Greek yogurt and fruit
*hummus and pita bread slices
*melted or regular cheese on a slice of whole wheat with some leftover chicken breast underneath
*small bowl of Clean breakfast cereal with milk and fruit
*tuna fish salad mixed into a small amount of whole grain pasta
*sliced apple and organic cheddar cheese
Remember, some of these mini-meals are best prepared ahead - especially if you work in an office environment. Plan ahead so that you are ready to eat a Clean option in the day ahead, rather than grabbing what is convenient ( read : Processed and Unclean! ).