What’s the phrase – I’m so hungry I could eat a horse?

Here’s another one – I’m ‘hangry’!

Do you ever feel this way?  Probably more often than we care to admit….

Here’s the problem, when we allow ourselves to get that hungry, the standard for what we consider to be food is lowered, and we reach for things that are quick, easy and convenient.

Those foods tend to be sugary or processed – cookies, chips or chocolate bars.

Or they tend to be of the fast food variety – McDonald’s, A&W or Wendy’s.

And in my world, those are non-functional items; in other words,  they are high calorie foods with little to no nutritional value.  These are the foods that lead us to overeat and gain weight.

So how do we stop ourselves from going hungry?

?? ????? ????????!!

Here are some of my tips:

1. Have some healthy snacks on hand – nuts, boiled eggs or cut up fruits and vegetables are great ideas. If you know that you are going to be on the go all day, make sure you pack some of these snacks to take with you. A small cooler or insulated bag will come in handy.
2. Spend some time prepping your vegetables – if they are already washed, peeled and cut up, it is easier to reach for them in that moment when you need to eat ???.
3. Do some meal planning – before I go grocery shopping, I spend some time deciding on what I am going to eat for the week. This way I know what to buy, and I don’t waste time each day trying to figure out what to cook for dinner.
4. Grocery shop with a list – based on my menu for the week, I shop for the items I need for those meals. This also helps me keep within my budget.
5. Don’t shop when you are hungry! We tend to make poorer decisions on what we consider to be food, and often overspend as well.
6. Batch cooking – make large batches of specific recipes and split it into individual portions that can be frozen and then eaten at a later time. This is great for those of us who don’t have a lot of time in the evening to make dinner, or need a quick lunch.

These ideas do require you to spend some extra time up front, but in the long run, you’ll not only save time, but you’ll make better, healthier food choices.

If you need some help with your food habits, I may have exactly what you need. You can learn more at www.livingvibrantly.ca.