Think snacking is taboo for healthy living? Not if you do it right.

“Snacks can absolutely be a healthy part of a balanced diet,” says Lindsay Livingston, a Registered Dietitian from Columbus, Ohio and blogger at The Lean Green Bean. “It’s important to build snack times into your daily schedule, just like meals, and not let yourselfgraze all day long. Choosing healthy snacks that contain lean protein can keep you from getting overly hungry between meals and give you the energy boost you need to make it through a long morning or afternoon.”

Understandably, you might not want to eat anything big or heavy before a long hunter under saddle class, but you do need something in your stomach to combat any weakness you might encounter from hunger. If you plan your meals responsibly, you don’t have to feel guilty about eating “mini meals” between your larger meals.

Read more about how you can snack healthier while on the road, whether it’s horse shows, dog agility trials, or just out and about:

Healthy Horse Show Living: Snacking the Day Away