7 Secrets of Skinny Runners

Skinny runners know that it's better to eat several small meals and snacks throughout the day than to eat a huge breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Eating every three to four hours helps stabilize your blood sugar and prevents you from binging in between meals and overeating when you sit down for a meal. Eating mini meals also helps maintain your energy levels throughout the day, so you're more likely to have more energy for exercise.

What to Do:

Here are some smart snacking ideas:

Keep healthy foods in your purse, briefcase, or desk. Dried fruit and nuts, oatmeal or low-fat granola bars are easy to stash and are perfect pick-me-ups when mid-morning hunger strikes.

Healthy snacking doesn't mean you have to completely deny yourself. To satisfy your sweet tooth, have some fat-free pudding, frozen yogurt or frozen fruit bars.

If you have a tendency to overeat when it comes to snacks, keep a convenient supply of snack-sized items. There are lots of 100-calorie snack packs of pretzels, cookies, and crackers available on your supermarket shelves. Use them to satisfy your mid-morning or mid-afternoon munchies.

More: Healthy Snacks for Runners