Beat hunger pangs!
Thursday 31 July 2008
It's 11.05am and already your packed-lunch is a distant memory? You're halfway through a pack of biscuits but still you're famished. Sound familiar?
Well fear not, help is at hand. Don’t be tempted to reach for the biscuit tin in moments of weakness because Closerdiets have come up with ten foods that will always beat the dreaded hunger pangs and keep the flab at bay!
Fill up on fibre
Foods such as fruit and veg contain plenty of fibre and take longer to chew. This makes you feel more satisfied, and slows down the speed at which you eat giving your brain time to register feelings of fullness. Fibre is also harder to digest, it stays in your stomach for longer keeping you feeling fuller for longer, so you're less likely to want to snack between meals! Perfect for hunger pang moments.
Opt for porridge
If you’re prone hunger at 11am, then change your breakfast choice to porridge. Porridge has a low Glycaemic Index (GI) which slowly releases sugar into the blood, providing you with a steady supply of energy. This leaves you feeling satisfied for longer so that you're less likely to snack mid-morning. There won’t be any hunger pangs to feed.
Gulp on some Water
Before reaching for cake, check whether you're really thirsty rather than hungry. It's easy to confuse thirst and hunger, and end up filling your plate for a second time when what you really need is a glass of water. Better still, water is needed for every chemical reaction in the body, including burning fat. Opt for sparkling water - the bubbles will help to fight the hunger.
Swig on a smoothie
Smoothies are a great way of filling up. Full of goodness, and diet-friendly, smoothies are perfect for combating hunger pangs. The perfect hunger-fix mid-morning.
Pick at some protein
Eating small amounts of lean meat, chicken, fish, dairy products and eggs may help to keep you feeling fuller for longer. This will stop you from snacking! You'll feel fuller for longer if you swap a couple of biscuits mid afternoon for a skinless chicken breast, tuna (canned in water) or lean ham with salad.
Start the day with an egg
According to recent research from the Rochester Centre for Obesity in America, eating eggs for breakfast can help to prevent hunger sufficiently so that calorie intakes are reduced by more than 400 calories throughout the rest of the day! Not only do they make you feel fuller for longer but they stop you eating between meals.
Stock your desk with fruit
There’s nothing worse than mid-afternoon at work when you’re starving and colleagues are offering chocolate and biscuits. If you keep your desk stocked up wit fruit such as apples, tangerines and red berries such as strawberries you can reach for these instead. High in fibre, you’ll fill up straight away.
Brush your teeth
Try cleaning your teeth between meals, not only will your teeth thank you but just imagine how disgusting a bag of crisps will taste after that…
Make a brew
And we don’t mean a large hot chocolate with marshmallows. But a great way to curb food cravings is to have a hot drink. Try herbal teas and add cinnamon, a slice of lemon or apple. Peppermint tea is especially good as it aids digestion, which equals flat tummy!
Fill the fridge
If you’re bored at home, and a little bit peckish you might find yourself staring into the fridge for something to eat. Don’t be drawn to the cheese compartment… Try filling your fridge with low fat snacks that you can nibble on. Vegetable crudite are perfect: cut up raw carrot, cucumber and celery. If it’s cold outside and you fancy something hot, then make up a batch of ratatouille you can heat up easily in the microwave: cook courgette, carrots, aubergine and tinned tomatoes in a pan with chicken stock and add some chilli, salt and pepper for flavour.
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