By
kmk02
Don't Eat 2 Hours Before Bed, Avoid Added Sugar, Avoid Sweetened Beverages, Avoid Fast Food, Avoid Sweets, Dessert, and Candy, Avoid Sugar at Breakfast
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annefood 7yr Hi @kmk02 ! Great question. What sort of foods do you crave, and what time of day do you tend to crave them? -
kmk02 7yr @annefood i usually start to crave things such as chocolate or crackers around 3
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annefood 7yr There are a variety of reasons why you might be craving certain foods in the afternoon. First, cravings might occur if you haven't had balanced meals throughout the day. If I skip breakfast or have a pathetic breakfast—even if I've had a good lunch—I often find myself opening the pantry in the afternoon. So make sure that you're eating well-balanced meals—that means plenty of protein, fiber, and healthy fats, and not too much added sugar. Eating sugar causes a blood sugar spiral, so the best way to stop eating sugar is to avoid it to begin with. Second, stay hydrated. If you haven't had enough fluids you might find yourself reaching for food instead of something to drink when really you're just thirsty. I also find myself reaching for food in the afternoon if I haven't been getting enough sleep, so be sure to get at least 7-8 hours. If you're still reaching for snacks, you're likely legitimately hungry! An afternoon snack because you're actually hungry (and not just eating out of habit) is totally fine! Just make sure to choose wisely. The best way to prevent yourself from eating crackers and chocolate is to rid your house (or office, or backpack, etc.) of crackers and chocolate, and replace them with whole fruit, nuts, hummus and chopped veggies, a hardboiled egg, etc. Sometimes all it takes to get rid of cravings is to form a new habit, and replacing your not-so-good-for-you snacks with good-for-you snacks.
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annefood 7yr If you are craving a sweet and fresh fruit isn't cutting it, try a piece of dried fruit. Or if you're craving something salty, try roasting some almonds and store them in a jar with a little sea salt. Also, it's important to note that eating a bit of chocolate or a few crackers from time to time is totally fine. Neither chocolate nor crackers are the enemy! Just make sure it's dark chocolate (at least 70%), only have a square and have a few nuts with it to help your body deal with the sugar. And if you're going to enjoy a few crackers, make sure to choose one with whole grains, only a few ingredients, and no added sugar. And have a bit of hard cheese or nut butter with them—again, get some protein in there.
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garv 7yr @annefood super advice, as always. @kmk02 I went through the same phase . Heres what helped : • chances are you've gotten used to a pattern & now reach out for chocolate as a force of habit. Break this pattern , by planning what to eat around 3. • chew your food slowly, it satiates you & cuts cravings • plan & give in to your cravings every once in a way ( my fav tip!) Cheers!