This week, we introduce the Trainer's Corner, where you will find each week an important tip to help you live a healthy, longer life, but more importantly, a life with vitality.

This week's tip:

Remember to eat an afternoon snack. When asked, "What is the most important thing to remember when training?" I say that food is as big a part of your training as your work out. Without it, you won't feel much like doing anything. When you might attribute your lack of enthusiasm to being lazy, really, a handful of nuts and fruit in the afternoon could be all that is keeping you from going to the gym, a run on Alki, or walk with the pooch after work. Remember, eating serves a purpose. That is for you to work out. Even an energy bar is great to have on hand. There are many more brands of bars available these days that have low sugar and high protein contents.

Check the ingredients and avoid those with hydrogenated fat and high fructose corn syrup. Even things that sound more natural are still condensed sweetener, like natural milled cane sugar and barley malt syrup. Grape juice concentrate is better.

If you don't like bars, try apples and peanut butter or blue corn chips and guacamole. Or, split your lunch in two and have the other half for an afternoon snack. This way you won't go comatose after a large Mexican or Chinese lunch, your blood sugar will remain steady and you won't dart strait to the pantry and onto the couch after work.

Annette Herrick is a West Seattle certified trainer and can be reached at Annette@fitnessforvitality.com