Prevent Impulse Eating

Impulse Eating

Have you ever gotten so hungry that all you could think was ‘I have to eat NOW’?  What did you end up eating?  Chances are it wasn’t the most healthy choice.  

Don’t worry, you’re not alone.  When we allow ourselves to get that hungry the brain sends signals driving us to find the highest calorie food available NOW so the body doesn’t starve.

The problem is that now you’ve put something into your body that will raise your blood sugar, lower your immune response, reduce your energy and contribute to weight gain.   
 

The trick to avoid this situation is to always be prepared! 

Always Be Prepared!

 

With a little bit of planning you can always be prepared for unexpected hunger attacks and be able to nourish your body rather than damage it.

Step 1:

Make a list of healthy, easy-to-take-with-you foods that you enjoy eating – make sure it’s stuff you like!  Include foods with healthy fats, protein and carbs.  When you get super hungry it’s important to have all the macronutrients covered in order to get quick energy, satisfy your hunger and clear your brain fog.  This doesn’t need to be a complete meal – a well balance snack will do the trick. 

Here are some ideas to help you get started.

·         Water.  Always have water with you and sip it throughout the day.  Did you know that thirst can often be mistaken for hunger?  

·         Unsalted nuts.  Walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts.  (These will provide protein and good fat)

·         Nut butters.  Cashew, almond, peanut...find your favorite.  Nut butters are great with fruit which would be a perfect snack containing healthy fat, protein and healthy carbs.  

·         Raw Veggies.  They are crisp, juicy, cold and sweet and full of the micronutrients your body craves.  

·         Cheese.  If you eat dairy, having a small slice of your favorite cheese will give you a complete protein and a little fat.

·         Boiled eggs.  Eggs are a powerhouse of protein.  Just be sure to get free range eggs.

·         A high quality shake.  Just make sure it’s high quality and doesn’t have any artificial ingredients or sugar in it – let me know if you need help finding one.

Step 2:

Buy the food on your list and only that food.  Never go grocery shopping hungry – you’ll most likely end up with a bunch of stuff you shouldn’t be putting in your body.

Step 3:

Decide the best way to pack your food and make sure it’s convenient.

Here are some tips.

·         Get a small cooler.  Buy yourself a small cooler that will hold an ice pack and several other things.  Keep it handy so you can grab it on the go.

·         Get small storage containers or plastic bags. You need individual containers to put your food in so you can portion it out into healthy sized servings.  If you bring a whole bag of nuts with you most likely you’ll eat too many.  Put a small handful of nuts into a plastic baggy or food container, put some cut up fruit in another container.  Portion control is important here because if you’re super hungry you’ll probably end up eating more than you need and over-eating healthy foods can lead to weight gain.

·         A shaker cup.  Put a scoop of your high quality shake in your shaker cup and just add water when you’re ready to have it.

·         Water bottle.  You need something to store a lot of water in.  I use a 1 litre water bottle.

Now You’re Ready!

 

You’ve figured out what foods you need to have with you, you’ve stocked up on them and you’ve got what you need to put your food in so you have it with you every day.

Now you need to make this a new habit which means at first it might seem too time consuming and you’ll be tempted to not do it.  Don’t let yourself get away with not doing it.  After a bit of time it’ll just be a normal part of your routine and this new routine is going to make you healthy, happy and energetic so it’s totally worth it!