Sitting around at home can get boring and make it easier to wander off to the kitchen even if you’re not hungry. During stressful times, our hormones are disrupted, which can also disrupt recognizing the difference between physical hunger and emotional hunger.
However, keep in mind that you should enjoy that cookie or piece of pizza if you feel as you really want it. Never deprive yourself of your favorite foods – sweets and salty crunchy foods are some of the best tasting foods! We are allowed to treat ourselves in moderation.
To better help control your hunger, try your best to eat every three to four hours. Eating regularly keeps your blood sugar stable, which prevents spikes of high and low blood sugar. Keeping your blood sugar stable throughout the day will help keep your hunger stable. When your blood sugar is low, your hunger hormones spike and make you crave foods that can lead to unhealthy habits.
It’s best to have quick, convenient snacks available, so that way if you are physically hungry you can gravitate towards one of your favorite healthy snacks. Getting a source of protein at each snack is a good way to get the most out of what you eat. Protein (i.e., cheese, peanut butter, eggs, Greek yogurt) helps keep your blood sugar stable as well.
Snack Ideas:
- Apple and 2 tbsp. peanut butter
- Orange and cheese stick
- Chocolate covered strawberries (melted dark chocolate with strawberries)
- Pineapple and 1 C cottage cheese
- Chocolate hummus and banana or strawberries
- Popcorn with a handful of nuts
- 1 C Greek yogurt with slivered almonds and your favorite fruit
- Pear with Laughing Cow Cheese spread on top, sprinkled with cinnamon
- 1 Slice whole grain toast with 2 tbsp. peanut butter
- Green smoothie (2 C spinach, 1 C almond milk, ½ C frozen mangos, 1 C Greek yogurt)
- Cheese and handful of nuts
- Raw vegetables such as peppers dipped in Ranch dressing
- Hummus with pretzels
- Hard boiled egg with string cheese
- Greek yogurt with granola and fruit
Develop Healthy Eating Habits
It can be tough to make snacking healthy when you’re used to eating junk food and a good support system can go a long way. Behavioral therapy services from Behavioral Nutrition are designed to help you develop healthy eating habits and improve your diet. Nutritional counselors at Behavioral Nutrition understand the challenges many face while trying to maintain a healthy diet while stuck at home. Behavioral therapy services are available via telehealth so you can get the help you need. Call Behavioral Nutrition to learn more about how we can help you start eating healthy during this difficult time.
