0When working to maintain a healthy lifestyle, sometimes hunger can be hard to curb. But with the right planning, you'll be in the driver's seat and back in control.
Plan ahead
One of the best ways to manage your hunger is to plan ahead. This means having high-protein, high-fibre snacks and meals readily available to combat hunger when it comes. When you are hungry and your glucose is low, you are more likely to want sugary, high-carb foods.
Balance Your Meals
For dinner, build the perfect glucose-friendly plate. What does that look like? It’s simple maths: a quarter protein, a quarter carbohydrate (whole grains or starchy vegetables like potatoes, corn, beetroot and squash), and half non-starchy vegetables (like spinach, broccoli, asparagus and tomatoes). Make enough to have healthy leftovers the next day.
Drink plenty of water
Sometimes, when you feel hungry, you might just be thirsty. Drinking water can help you reduce your urge to snack on unhealthy foods. As a starting point, try to drink at least eight glasses of water per day. If you want to add some flavour to your water, you can infuse it with fruit or herbs, like lemon or mint. (1)
Take Time Out
Check in with yourself and ask, “is this hunger or something else?”. In other words, are you stressed, bored, frustrated, or tired? If your hunger is tied to low energy levels and a dip in glucose, follow the Fundamentals and refuel. If your hunger is actually something else, try to change things up. Get up and go on a walk, read a book, or listen to some music until the feelings pass. This gives you space to think more clearly and make better decisions about your food choices.
