In an earlier article I mentioned that snacking leads to fat - and can lead to obesity. Now, inbetween meals, it is not uncommon to get hungry. In fact, around every 2-3 hours your body starts crying out for food. SO what do you do when the craving gets impossible to ignore?
First of all, have a glass of water.
It is widely known, but not widely appreciated that thirst is often mistaken for hunger. When you feel thirsty, you’re probably on the verge of de-hydration. When you feel hungry, you probably need water.
So, have a glass of water, and then determine if you really are hungry. Drink the entire glass before reaching for something ‘just in case’.
Second, throw away that chocolate bar.
Do not consume processed food during the day. Do not. That is a command. You are slowly killing your body. Trust me! Throw away chips, cookies, LeSnak, flavored tinned fish, noodles in a cup, cup-a-soup, mini pre-frozen pizzas - etc. Do not eat these for snacks.
Third - reach for an apple.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Age-old adage still rings true. Not only apples are marvellous - there are hosts of other fruits and vegetables that are piled sky high with nutrients that will nourish you and up your energy levels. A carrot is great, an apple, pear, cup of berries etc. Stay away from tinned fruit as these are usually cooked and have lived in a very sugary syrup for months. Any raw, fresh fruit is absolutely wonderful. Have about as much as you can hold in one hand - so an apple would be perfect.
If you’re really hungry, go for a bit of protein. Tuna or salmon chunks in springwater are reasonable. Cottage cheese is great - boiled eggs, slices of cheese, small pieces of chicken or fish are all great light proteins.
If you have a sweet tooth, try dried fruit. However, be really careful here. Most dried fruit has preservatives to keep the color - which are not ideal. Look for dried fruit that have no extra ingredients - just dried fruit. Also, the nutrients are less than fresh fruit - and higher in sugar. So go easy and don’t have a handful like you would of fresh fruit.
Raw nuts and seeds are also a great alternative. Go with what your body feels like - often too many nuts can send people, well, nuts… they affect people different ways so do be careful. I enjoy dried peas. They’re roasted I think and flavored with natural spices - very addictive according to Elliot.
I think one of the best investments you could make is to buy yourself a dehydrator. There are lots of recipes online about what you can do with these… I am going to get one very soon and I’ll be using it a lot! You can put all kinds of fruit and even veges in it and turn it on for a day or two. Voila - dried fruit without any preservatives or additives. You can also dry meat and make your own jerky.
So… choose wisely if you feel hungry. Don’t pig out. Don’t eat so you are stuffed. Have a small piece of fruit, or vegetable, or protein, or nuts and seeds. Not some of everything. Drink water before you eat and again after if you wish. I find a hot herbal tea also is wonderful for curbing that hunger.
Snack wisely!
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