So here I am suggesting, "Oh my gosh! Wouldn't it be wonderful for all of us if we could stop snacking all day?" But here you are, looking at me like I have no idea what I'm talking about. Well, that's partly true. I don't have the one answer that can stop mindless snacking forever, but every goal has it's journey. Here is where we start, with foods that actual FILL YOU UP! And no, we're not talking about dry lettuce (thank god) and we're also not talking about that enormous molten chocolate chip cookie sitting at the corner of your desk that you have been eyeing since you began reading this post (darn it!).
Here is what I have found personally works for me, in the order from BEST to not the best but still awesome. They are healthy, satisfying and not loaded with calories that causes you to regret ever looking at them. These may not have the same results for you, but it's worth a shot, right?
1. Oatmeal
Oatmeal is my absolute favorite staple food. I'm not talking about the quick fix 100-calorie original instant oatmeal, but the old fashioned oats that take a few more minutes to cook. The good thing is that even though it takes longer to cook than instant oatmeal, it's not that much longer so you still have time to whip some up before heading off to work. Or even better, you can cook up a whole batch and store them in your fridge for the week! For me, the thicker the oatmeal, the more filling because it really packs in your stomach and the good news is that the serving size suggested is actually true. We have all experienced eating 5-6 servings of cereal because it's just so sugary delicious and not filling at all, not to mention the serving sizes suggested are puny. But oatmeal is so filling that just 1/2 cup of oats at 150 calories, which gives you about 1 cup of cooked oatmeal, that it keeps you going until lunchtime, without leaving you the feeling of grabbing a bag of chips at 10 in the morning. Top if off with some of your favorite fixings like eggs, fruit, nuts/nut butter and cinnamon and you have yourself the perfect treat that not only makes your body happy because it is healthy and decent in calories but also makes you happy because it's just so delicious!
2. Large Fuji Apple
There has been rumor that apples have negative calories because they require more calories to burn than they actually contain. Personally I don't believe in this but that is not why I love them. Large Fuji apples clock in at about 150 calories (at the most, which are the huge ones that's as big as a baby's head), and they are extremely filling because the size gives it a lot of fiber (so I would recommend eating 1-2 at the most per day, or you will be in the bathroom all night). Also, if you are vulnerable to binging, just try binging on these apples. Can't be done. Believe me, I've tried. Eating just two at once will want to make you stop eating anything at all. They will either fill you up or give you a slight pain in your stomach if you quickly devour them, but either way, 300 calories sure beats a normal binge of 5000 calories. They take quite a bit of time to chew and swallow, unlike chips, so you are forced to take your time and actually pay attention to what you're eating. For me, one large Fuji apple is PERFECT for an afternoon snack on it's own.
3. Large Korean Pear
As with my love of Fuji apples, these pears are also a great staple for that can stand alone as a snack. However, even though they are the same size as the apples, they don't have quite as much fiber so it does not keep you full as long, but long enough to last at least an hour and they are incredibly juicy. If you love pears, you will adore these. Here's the good news. One if these humongous pears clocks in at about how many calories? Guess. Give up. 60! One huge Korean pear is only 60 calories! How can you beat that!!?? Grab one today and munch away. Or grab three. Whatever floats your boat.
4. Eggs (Not egg beaters, but actual whole eggs)
Eggs are my perfect breakfast go to food when I need some protein to bulk up my meal. One large egg is only 70 calories and has enough protein to keep you satisfied and happy until lunch. There has been a bad rap about how eggs should be avoided because they are high in cholesterol. But it's not like we're eating a dozen a day. Just mix in one or two eggs in with your morning oatmeal and I guarantee you that you will be full for the next 4 hours.
5. Water!!!
Who can forget water? Water is not only the most important staple in our lives but it can also prevent us from constant snacking. Here's how. Many times our body mistaken thirst for hunger and so we begin to think that we're hunger when in reality we are just dehydrated. And since water is a liquid, it takes up space in your stomach to keep more food from going in, making you feel full when you have only eaten a moderate portion. So next time you start to feel hungry, drink a glass of water and that hunger should go away. If it doesn't, then maybe you really are hungry. Here's another trick. Before each meal, drink a large glass of water and and you will end up feeling full without having to eat a ton of food. Try this and watch the extra weight flush right out!
Are you hungry right now? You would be if you are sitting on the couch, stomach growling and waiting for the pizza delivery guy to ring your doorbell. But what if you just ate? And I mean JUST ate, like 5 minutes ago. Are you still finding yourself raiding the pantry and rummaging through a package of Oreos? Does this happen often? Do you find yourself constantly hungry, whether has been four hours after a meal, or even 15 minutes? I sure do. I am always in the kitchen, opening and closing the fridge, reaching for a cookie that is just lying around and holding something every time I look down. Sometimes the eating is simply out of boredom, which I'm sure you can relate to. We all like to eat when we're bored. What's more relaxing than plopping ourselves in front of the television and tearing open that fresh bag of chips? Snacking and the boob tube is the best feeling ever! But how long can that last before we all turn into boob tubes ourselves? Snacking 24/7 cannot be a lasting lifestyle. It's impractical and definitely unhealthy.
So here is my mission: to set out and find what truly satisfies us during each meal to prevent the nonstop eating throughout the day. We all hear stories and news about how "a 90 calorie Special K bar is the latest low calorie breakfast guaranteed to keep you satisfied and lean until your next meal!", which by the way, is four hours later. There is no way a dinky sugary bar the size of your finger is enough for breakfast, much less give you the energy you need to start off your day. And then we hit lunch time. "After that delicious filling bar, how about a nice big salad? But be careful, dressing makes you fat, so take that out. Nix the carbs because who the hell eats bread with a salad. Protein? Ehh....still too fattening. Take it out. There. The perfect meal." Yea, the perfect meal if you're a bunny rabbit. Dinner time! "Walk to your freezer and take out a nice 150-calorie Lean Cuisine. That should keep you full until the morning. You have some nice pasta, juicy chicken and fresh vegetables. That way you won't be missing out on your favorite foods! You can enjoy your cravings and still lose weight!"
No wonder we're always hungry. The hype about the best "healthy foods that we should eat" is a load of FUNK! If we take the Special K bar for breakfast, the salad containing only of lettuce and broccoli for lunch and the puny Lean Cuisine for dinner, we have basically under 300 calories for the entire day, that we're "supposed" to eat, compared to the 1500-2000 that we need to eat. When we are depleted in calories, there is no way any of us can be satisfied, not even a toddler. Our bodies begin to fight back and so we crave that cookie, or 10, sitting on the corner of our desks at 9am in the morning. Because we try to survive on limited calories to look hot, we end up taking in twice as much calories as we need each day, resulting in overeating and weight gain.
So how do we prevent this? How do we stop eating every second of the day and avoid unnecessary weight gain? We all need to eat, but how come we're not all overweight? The answer is because of the four letter word DIET. It's simple. Those who diet and limit their food intake to lose weight, end up gaining weight. Those who do not diet and each what their body craves, do not. We've all heard of cutting out fats and carbs to lose weight, but when our bodies do not have these, it craves them more and more, until the point where we go on unstoppable binges to get them. However, if we just include these in our meals, we won't end up wanting more and more, plus we can finally concentrate and not feel tired everyday in our activities. We are lazy because we lack the energy due to lack of nutrients from cutting out food. Let's stop this. Who's with me? Let's set out to find EXACTLY what works for us and what does not.
