When I get home and am incredibly hungry, the first thing I see is what I reach for. That’s the hard and fast truth. In the past, this was a huge problem for me. I was constantly choosing packaged snacks like chips or crackers and cheese. I completely support enjoying those things in moderation. However if you’re starving, moderation won’t be at the forefront of your mind! We tend to eat what we see first.
This is a hard and fast truth. When I come home hungry I always eat the easiest and most convenient thing I can find. In the past, this was packaged snacks like chips or crackers and cheese. I’m the first person to enjoy these treats in moderation! However, if you’re like me when I’m hungry, moderation doesn’t come easy. Cue me eating half a box of crackers and a large brick of cheese. Oops…but so delicious!
Are you up for a challenge?
Take 5 minutes of your day and remove some of the foods and treats that aren’t helping you reach your goals. Don’t overthink it! That’s why I limit this to 5 minutes. You can donate it, bring it to work (it always gets eaten!) or put it in a box for a special treat. If you want to keep one or two, go for it!
Um, what about moderation, Nikki? I’ve got self control!
Amazing! That’s truly truly fantastic, and I’m not being sarcastic! I still recommend keeping those treats in a designated spot. Try it out and be intentional about enjoying them. The goal is for these to not be your go-to snack when you’re hungry, but something you eat out of a craving with intention vs. out of hunger.
Moderation can be great for many of us but at the end of the day, a lot of processed food is addictive and we often have a hard time demonstrating self-control. The added sugars, salt, artificial flavors and MSG make it hard for us to stop when we want. Ever reach into a bag of chips and realize it’s empty? Oh yeahhh, been there done that over and over!
What am I gonna eat Nikki???
Excellent question!
Choose snacks that:
- expire (think produce: fruits and vegetables)
- make you feel good after eating
- keep you full for an appropriate amount of time – if a 300 calorie snack doesn’t keep you for for a couple of hours, it might not be a good go to option
- aim to avoid hydrogenated oils, saturated fats and trans fats
There is definitely a time and a place for treats, sweets and all those things. However, give this a go and see if you notice a difference in how you and your body feel. Choosing whole foods can help you minimize your cravings and reach your goals a lot faster. Now don’t get me wrong. I still enjoy chips and cookies! But more often than not I aim choose whole foods over processed foods. Commit to a lifestyle change. Reprogramming our brains takes time and intention. Avoid shortcuts that bring you back to square one. If you want a different outcome from previous diets, you often need to try different steps to reach your goals.
If you need some inspiration, try a couple of snack ideas from my visual above!