I’m a bit of a health and fitness fanatic (as most of you within this network), and so I like to try and eat every three hours. I like to keep that balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats balanced throughout the day, aiming for a portion of my daily vitamin intake in each meal.

For me, balance is the most important thing. I strive for enough protein and carborhydrates to fuel my mind and body for the day. Although I’m at the desk for the most part, I want to make sure I have enough energy to push through my training in the evening.

Fats are also an essential part of your diet. I like the almonds approach you’ve mentioned above, Kathryn.

I’m not sure how many people use (or what you might think of) protein shakes. I don’t use them as a complete meal source in themselves, but to complement my meal. For example, this afternoon I will have a protein shake, Fruity Bix bar and an apple. This will provide me with around 25 grams of protein, 35 grams of carbohydrates (20 sugar), 3 grams of fat. It’s ideal for me about an hour and a bit before I train.

A favourite snack idea of mine is about 100 – 150 grams of smoked salmon, cottage cheese and a few Vita-weats. Put some lemon juice over the top with some cracked pepper to taste and you’ve got a great gourmet snack for the afternoon.

Paul you sound very committed to your health and fitness. I guess I try to do the “right thing” as much as possible but I am certainly no fanatic. I live with the “zipper syndrome” so my clothes are telling me whether I may indulge a little today or perhaps I should consider compensating for the next couple of days. I do not own any scales. I cannot imagine counting carbs, fats, sugars, etc either. And I have never been to a gym. I find it so interesting how different people use different approaches to achieve the similar goal of attaining good health and well-being.

My idea of a healthy afternoon snack? I love all things “mezze”. These are small tastes or bites enjoyed throughout the Mediterranean as either a snack or an offering for visitors. Sometimes even a meal in themselves. When hunger pangs strike it is so easy to take a mezze dish out of the fridge or take to work and enjoy it with cut up raw vegetables or with breads such as bakes pita crisps, grissini sticks, turkish bread, sourdough, baguette or lavash.

I usually have some kind of marinated vegetable I have made; my favourites are capsicum and beetroot. My husband loves marinated eggplant. Give a quick zap in the microwave or allow to come to room temp. naturally. The really good thing about mezze dishes are that most can last in the fridge for a week.

Mezze suggestions include tzatziki, hummus, bean dips, tabouleh, beetroot dip, capsicum dip, caramelised onions, basil or sun-dried tomato pesto, aoili, dukkah, tapenade, caponata, salsa, sweet pepper relish or even thick syrupy homemade pizza sauce.

Yesterday my healthy afternoon snack included marinated beetroot wedges, some feta cheese, baked pita crisps and a small handful of macadamia nuts. So satisfying!

This is so interesting, reading both of your comments and your entirely different approaches to health. It’s down to personality, goals, lifestyle and what we want from our health and our life and what works for you.

If you have a regular training schedule then watching your nutrient intake is important. Keeping up a regular balanced intake of protein, fats and carbohdyrates is needed for fueling your activity and also your recovery.

However, if that’s not the case for you, then you don’t have to be quite so particular about your food. You can take a more relaxed approach to nutrient intake – by eating well, eating a variety of foods and not over-eating.

Thanks for your contributions.

Gosh, I thought I’d pop by and report on my afternoon snack but it isn’t nearly sophisticated as Paul’s and Mariana’s. I love Mariana’s idea of keeping mezze bits in the fridge – it’s good to hear that they keep for a week as that is one of the things that tends to put me off making something a bit more special for snacking on.

I have just had a handful of fantastic cherries, an oat biscuit and a bolstering cup of earl grey tea. I remembered to take the cherries out of the fridge at lunchtime so that they had chance to come to temperature and I must say it made all the difference!

Agreed Kathryn. It really does come down to” personality, goals, lifestyle and what we want from our health and our life and what works for you”.

One of the most interesting things I’ve done as part of my work is ask a group of people what the words ‘health and wellbeing’ means to them. A ton of words come back – none of them wrong.

Mariana, I LOVE mezze plates!! Can’t get enough of them. Might tee one of those up on the weekend which is itching so very close.

Sophie, I LOVE cherries equally as much.

Great to hear what healthy afternoon snacks people get into.

Have a great day everyone.

Sophie, thanks for dropping back. Cherries and an oat biscuit sound lovely and I particularly like the idea of tea in the afternoon. Not only does it have health benefits, but the ritual of making it ensures you pause and take a moment out of the busy day.

omg
this was like the totally best diet i have like ever done
i have like never looked like so good like in my life.
And like suprisingly they taste love so good

seriously do this diet
xoxoxoxo

hiya i think it is a good healthy diet for me and other people around who thinks of going on a balanced diet luv u loads bye