No matter how healthy and balanced our three meals a day are, sometimes the cravings hit and we need a snack or two to keep us going.
These hunger pangs mean that it's sometimes difficult for people to reach for the healthy snacks, instead choosing to have things such as crisps or chocolate to curb any cravings.
However, experts say that being more mindful about when you're snacking and the types of things you're eating could help you avoid putting on weight, resulting in a healthier lifestyle overall.
To help people better understand their snacking habits and how to do it in a healthier and more sustainable way, Jonathan Wolf, CEO and co-founder of health tech company ZOE, enlisted the help of two experts.
In a recent episode of the ZOE Health podcast, he was joined by nutrition scientist Dr Sarah Berry and genetics professor Tim Spector to talk all things snacking, trying to find out what is truly beneficial to the body.
One of the things that's most important to keep in mind when it comes to eating between meals is the time of day that you do it at, according to the experts.
Recent research by ZOE had revealed that snacking throughout the day didn't have any "unfavourable outcomes" when it came to health, but instead, the timing had a huge impact.
Speaking on the podcast, Sarah said: "What we did find though, was the timing of the eating was really important, so timing of the snacking and also the quality.
"35% of people were snacking after nine o'clock in the evening, and those people that were snacking after nine o'clock in the evening, even if they were unhealthy snacks, had an unfavourable association with body mass index.
"So body weight and other factors related to cardiovascular disease such as our blood fats and our blood sugar."
Sarah went on to explain that in contrast, people who were eating high-quality snacks earlier in the day didn't suffer any of these "unfavourable" effects, so it could be worth swapping your late-night snacks
The experts also discussed the kind of snacks that we should be having if we feel hungry during the day, and named one thing as the "worst" option.
Crisps are a hugely popular choice, but certain brands can be highly processed and contain huge amounts of chemicals and very little potato.
Tim Spector said: "So that's a good example of the worst kind of potato-ish snack. And you go to the other extreme, you can get potato crisps with the skin on, which adds fibre.
"They can be cooked in extra virgin olive oil and actually there is just potato, just olive oil and just salt. And they are relatively healthy compared to other snacks."
The experts also named plain nuts and seeds as a "fantastic" snack option as they are packed with nutrients, protein and they keep you fuller for longer.
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Health experts share 'worst' snack to eat if you're trying to lose weight - Daily Record
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