Never Be Hungry!
Hunger and low blood sugar is neither healthy nor practical when trying to watch what you eat. So instead of letting your meals slide until you reach the point of desperation and grabbing a bag of chips, consider the following ideas:??1. Plan ahead. In the morning, before hunger sets in, decide what your snacks and meals will be for that day and consider how you will space them so that hunger does not strike and throw you off track! A good rule of thumb is a small meal or snack every 3-5 hours depending on your metabolism and level of hunger.??2. Prepare your snacks for between meals. I call these “grazing bowls.” Each morning, I cut vegetables and fruits for healthy in between meal snacks. For example, instead of thinking,“I have fruits in the refrigerator for a snack later, ”take those fruits out of the refrigerator, wash them, trim them and place them in bowls on your counter or in baggies and containers if you are headed to work. Leave them out and within reach. That way, when you feel hungry, you can just reach over for your already prepared snack.??3. It is a good idea to incorporate lots of variety into your meal plan. When eating fruits and vegetables, think of every color of the rainbow. Of course, every color of the rainbow may not be possible each day, but over a week incorporate as many as you can. This not only provides variety, but also gives you the greatest variety of vitamins and minerals in your diet.??4. For the carb-a-holics out there, locate a good multigrain snack. Something with whole grains like TLC crackers or Wasa crackers might be a good choice. Eat them in conjunction with your fruits and vegetables alone or with a smashed up avocado spread or low fat all natural cream cheese spread. Be aware of the fat content in crackers. Sometimes it can be quite high. Make adjustments as necessary to ensure that no more than 30% of your calories are from fat.??5. Quantities! Sometimes it is not WHAT you are actually eating that makes you fat, but the AMOUNT of what you are eating that makes you fat. Remember to eat slowly and savor your food. This counts for snacks, too! And when your hunger is satisfied—stop there. Know that you are prepared for the next bout of hunger and you make excellent choices!??6. Stay hydrated. Sometimes hunger is dehydration in disguise. If you feel hungry, but think that it is too soon since your last meal, consider your water intake. Have you had enough? Hunger and dehydration have a similar physical sensation. Try drinking a large glass of water and see if that satisfies your empty feeling. Dehydration can also cause fatigue, headaches and bad breath. So, it is a great idea to stay hydrated.
