Hear me out! I know you have been taught that snacking is bad, will only lead to weight gain, and that coffee is the answer to all of your energy problems… but that’s just not true! 

Snacking is one of the BEST things you can do for your period. Why? Balance. 

Blood sugar balance, hormone balance, hunger and fullness balance. If you are tired of exhaustion, moodiness, and PMS the 2 weeks before your period it could be because your body needs more nutrition to support a healthy cycle. 

When you snack and give your body fuel every 3(ish) hours, your body starts to find a rhythm that you may not have experienced before. As your hormones balance and you find relief you will be able to go longer between meals, but in the meantime you need to help your body feel safe and supported. We do this by eating meals and snacks at regular times so that your body doesn’t have to wonder when it’s next meal is coming.

If you are just getting started and your body is craving sweets every afternoon at 4:00 pm, then eating every 3 hours during the is going to be the best option. Your body will respond beautifully to having consistent energy! 

The most important step is that you are eating enough calories, and once you are doing that we can move into new strategies such as what to choose for hormone healthy snacks! 

These are snacks that include: 

• a carbohydrate (to give you all the energy)
• A protein (to slow down your digestion for blood sugar balance, more fullness, and longer lasting energy) 

If you were to just eat a carbohydrate food for a snack on it’s own, what happens is that your body takes that energy and you have an energy rush and crash when your blood sugar goes up fast, and then comes back down. 

The same thing can happen with your protein if you eat it alone, your body will use that some of that protein to create carbohydrates for energy. This process is more inefficient and just goes to show…what your body truly wants is carbohydrates! 

You may be thinking, “but Erin, wouldn’t it be better for our bodies to use more calories when digesting and processing foods?”

When we are working to help our bodies feel safe, supported, and most importantly fed, choosing foods that make our bodies work harder isn’t always the best option. Particularly if you are trying to decrease stress on your body.

One of my favorite snacks is berries with a cheese stick or an apple and almonds. Need more snack combo ideas? Check out the picture below!

For more information on how to use nutrition to support your hormone health, fertility, and menstrual cycle click the button below and sign up for my newsletter!