Ask Shannon: Fitness and Nutrition Q&A

Posted January 31, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Shannon Clark

Section: Her Fitness, Athletics, Training Programs, Her Health, Her Nutrition, Special Features, Q & A

With years of training under her belt, resident fitness and nutrition expert Shannon Clark is ready to help you on your way to a healthy, informed lifestyle. Got a question? her your inquiries, and be sure to check back every week for the latest Q&A.

Q: I normally eat soup and salad for lunch, but I find that within the next hour or so, I’m hungry again. Should I add anything to my lunch to fix this problem?

Depending on the type of soup you eat and the salad dressing you use, chances are your mid-day meal is be low in fat and protein.

The protein content in your meal, along with fat, helps to provide satiety and slows the release of carbohydrates into the blood stream. If either are lacking at lunch, you’ll be hungry shortly after you dine. Also beware of eating too few calories - a broth soup and a plain salad isn’t enough to sustain an active woman!

So, first try adding more protein to the meal (and potentially fat), and if that doesn’t work, consider how many calories you’re eating and whether they’re enough to meet your needs.

Q: I love going to the movies but am worried that all the snacking is contributing to the weight I’ve gained recently. Do you have any suggestions on healthier movie fare?

Ahh, movie theater snacks. Delicious, sure - but usually supersized, sugary choices.

Take a good look at the sizes of those sodas, bags of popcorn and candy packages - they are huge! You can start a better snacking policy by splitting your movie food with a friend, rather than purchasing your own. Next, skip the added toppings. These are artificial, processed and high in sodium - you can do better.

While you aren’t supposed to sneak in your own food, a small bag of roasted nuts, home-popped corn or fruit salad isn’t going to hurt anyone, and will make your movie-going experience tastier and more nutritious.