Finding yourself snacking yet again? It’s been just over a month now that we’ve been stuck at home. If you are like me or the many people I’ve talked to, you may have found yourself snacking more than usual. While snacking itself isn’t necessarily bad, it could become a problem if begins to happen more and more frequently or if your choices are consistently unhealthy. If we want to be successful when it comes to eating healthy, it requires a little bit of planning.  In other words, you need to set yourself up for success.

One of the best ways to control your snacking is to focus on your meals.

  • Schedule your meals- Plan them out. Whether this is the morning of or the night before, think about what you will eat that day, write it down, and stick to the plan. This will prevent you from snacking your way through a meal.
  • Focus on the quality of your meals- You’ll want to eat foods that will fill you up and balance your blood sugar so that if you do reach for a snack you are not ravenous and feel out of control. Focus on eating quality proteins, healthy fats, fiber filled fruits or vegetables. Skip the sugar!
  • Sit down and enjoy your meals– Slow down, practice mindfulness, and chew your food thoroughly. Slowing down will help to improve digestion and allow your body to properly use the nutrients you are eating. As a result, you will stay fuller longer and avoid unnecessary snacking.

The key to preventing overeating and uncontrolled snacking is to Control Your Environment.
 
Here again, you want to set yourself up for success.  Make a “go to” container for the pantry and a “go to” container for the fridge.  This way when you open either, you know right where to go instead of standing there wondering what you should eat and then reaching for something  unhealthy.

Here are some helpful tips:

  • Sit down at the table when eating snacks to avoid mindless eating.  Treat your snacks like a meal. 
  • Eat snacks that take longer to eat: shelled nuts, spicy snacks.
  • Chew thoroughly: this will help you slow down and help you to register when you are full. Chewing thoroughly will also help with digestive issues such as bloating and gas.
  • Take note of how you are feeling when you are snacking: are you bored, stressed, or anxious. Come up with a list of things you can do to divert these emotions.
  • Drink plenty of water throughout the day and before eating. We often mistake hunger for thirst.
  • Don’t associate food with a reward. Don’t use it as an excuse to eat unhealthy or overeat.
  • Remember that a snack is something to hold you over until the next meal so that you don’t overeat.  It is not a meal.
  • Keep in mind that a craving only last’s 3-5 minutes.  Make a list of distractions you can engage in when you want to snack. Chances are the craving will have passed by the time you are done.
  • Don’t buy the foods you will be tempted to overeat. Throw out the junk!

Hopefully you will find these suggestions useful.  If you need some extra help, consider scheduling a free consultation with me.  Head to my website @https://www.balancehealthandnutrition.com/work-with-julie/
to schedule your phone or video consultation.  

Wishing you Balance,
Julie