Winter weather always brings about a serious case of the munchies. There’s nothing like a few snow days in a row to empty out a pantry. The thing about munching like you’re gearing up for hibernation is that is can become an unhealthy habit.

Instead of stocking up on those favor cravers and the battling the bulge come spring thaw try substituting some of your junk food for healthier alternatives. If your family is like mine you may hear a few complaints about the fact that some faves are missing from the pantry, but you’ll soon find that everyone is craving the best of what you have.

It always amazes me when I come home from grocery shopping and stock the refrigerator with fruit how the kids naturally gravitate towards it. They don’t even look to see what’s lurking in the pantry, they go straight for the fruit. It’s gratifying to see. Conversely, though, when we’re out of fruit they immediately go for the chips, cookies and other sugary snacks.

It’s a balance for sure. It’s fine to have sugary snacks, as long as it’s in moderation. I noticed that if I buy several bags of chips, cookies and other goodies all at once my family drives through it in record speeds. If, however, I buy just a small amount of these items and a larger amount of fruit, string cheese, yogurt and other healthier snacks then the munching is much more moderate. I’ve also adopted a 1:1 snacking ratio. Whenever one of the kids asks for a sugary snack I tell them yes, but the next snack item has to be something healthy.

I’ve also noticed how most of the single serving snacks available at the grocery store that are so temptingly convenient for packing in school lunches are of the junk food variety. In order to balance this out I buy large quantities of healthier alternatives and package them individually myself – in either small containers or zipper baggies. Not only is it healthier, it’s cheaper, too.

I don’t know if there’s a way to fight off the munchies completely, but it’s pretty easy to simply modify your shopping list so that your family is getting more nutritional choices for nibbling. And although it seems like eating well is more expensive than buying junk food, it really does cost about the same, you just have to look a little harder – the retailers don’t push apples and cheese nearly as visibly as they do the chips and cookies. So just put your blinders on and seek out the better choices. Your body will thank you later, especially as the time grows nigh for trying on bathing suits.