Sip this Sweet Drink to Curb Your Appetite

I came across this great article by RealAge.com. It's perfect for the person on the go. If you don't have time to eat your calories there are some great ways to drink your calories. The key is to consume the right nutrients.

The fruit-and-yogurt smoothie craze has caught on like wild fire, but are you sure your smoothie is packing the right kind of punch or is it just packing on the pounds?

Research shows that a fiber-and-protein-rich snack at midmorning keeps appetite under control, so you eat a smaller lunch later -- a good 274 calories smaller!

An Appetite-Curbing Combo

In a recent study, that's exactly what happened to people who were fed a midmorning snack of yogurt spiked with extra protein and fiber. Not only did they eat a much smaller lunch than normal, but also their appetites shrank by 16 percent.

Why? Because the protein/fiber combo has two things going for it when it comes to appetite control: Protein helps dampen the production of hunger hormones while fiber slows digestion. The two mechanisms together keep people feeling full and satisfied longer.

Roads to More Protein and Fiber

A smoothie isn't the only way to get protein and fiber. There are plenty of tasty, low-calorie ways to add both elements to any meal or snack. For example, eat beans with your whole-grain rice, add nuts and berries to cereals or yogurt, or spread a little peanut butter onto high-fiber crackers. You can also add wheat germ to smoothies or oatmeal for a quick protein-and-fiber hit. A quarter cup of wheat germ adds almost 7 grams of protein and almost 4 grams of fiber.

To read the complete article visit RealAge.com.