Cravings Happen
Cravings happen even to the healthiest. Often, when a craving hits in the afternoon or the evening after dinner, we get the urge to snack. Snacking can be a bad habit to get into if the snacks we choose are junky, non-nutritious, and high in calories, sugar, or unhealthy fat.
The trick to snacking without piling on the pounds is to find healthy alternatives to the regular snacks you might usually eat.
Substitution, Not Deprivation
Usually, when we get a craving, it is for either something sweet (chocolate!), savory (potato chips!), creamy (ice cream!), or crunchy (crisps!). Obviously, my examples are foods you shouldn’t eat all the time if you want to be trim and healthy. But that doesn’t mean you have to fight your cravings for the rest of your life. Instead, you just need to substitute.
Be careful to pair natural sweet snacks like fruit with a small amount of protein, so your blood sugar will remain in balance. Fiber is vital, as it helps slow down the absorption of sugar (for example a piece of fruit), which helps in stabilizing blood sugar. This is why it’s better to have the whole piece of fruit instead of fruit juice only. If you choose to juice some fruits and vegetables, you can pair that with a small amount of protein and then have a little less protein in your next meal.
Sweet Snacks
Next time you get a craving for something sweet, why not try:
- fresh, whole fruit and raw nuts
- apples and almond butter
- dried fruit and nuts
- green smoothies
- banana “ice cream” (peel a banana, freeze, blend in a food processor with nuts, berries and/or raisins and serve)
- dates stuffed with almond butter or other nut butter
- organic dark chocolate chips or carob chips and nuts or seeds
Savory Snacks
For your savory cravings, try these healthy alternatives:
- olives
- pickles and pickled vegetables, such as carrot, daikon, beets, and lotus root (EXCELLENT for your digestive tract – filled with probiotics)
- tabouli, hummus with celery or cucumber
- steamed vegetables with tamari/shoyu or umeboshi vinegar
- freshly made salsa or guacamole with veggies
- Sauerkraut (will also knock your sweet craving right out!)
- salted edamame
Creamy Snacks
Your creamy cravings can be met by eating:
- smoothies
- avocados
- chia pudding
- dips and spreads, like hummus and baba ghanoush
- puréed soups
- puddings made with silken tofu (sparingly), avocado, or mashed banana
- mashed sweet potatoes
- coconut milk
Crunchy Snacks
Finally, don‘t cave in and reach for the Pringles when you can eat these crunchy (but still healthy) snacks:
- apples
- frozen grapes
- rice cakes
- light popcorn or plain popcorn (use coconut oil to pop in a covered pan or an air popper)
- carrots
- celery and nut butter
- raw, unsalted nuts like cashews, almonds, and walnuts
Don’t fight your craving. Instead, listen to what your body wants (ALWAYS try water first) and choose the healthier option (and portion) that will be good for your waistline.
Question: what snack substitute have you discovered that satisfies your cravings? Leave a comment below.
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