What do you do to keep from snacking on the things that are bad for you?!
What do you do to keep from snacking on the things that are bad for you?
Answers: Pre- make healthy snacks. dont buy them!...or buy them and eat them....but dont swallow them.... Try using self-control. Have a vegetable or a piece of fruit instead of a Frito. I drink water or juice to fill my stomach, eat cucumber. Sometimes I just find something interesting to do to forget about my craving. i try to keep a stash of good stuff that i like, or will drink a glass of water to fill my stomach if nothing is on hand. I am female, this works for me for snacking in general. I do my nails when I am watching a movie or something when I would normaly snack. By the time I get through the urge to snack has gone. I also find that drinking fluids helps to hold of the snackies too. Drink lots of non carbonated flavored drinks. Chew gum or snack on a spoon full of reduced fat peanut butter. Drink water if it's nearby or I'm hungry and it's not a meal time. As far as at home, we don't bring the temptation in the house. You can also choose something healthier, but with the similar texture or taste you're looking for.
Salty: instead of chips, opt for low-fat popcorn
Sweet: Cereal, frozen yogurt, grapes, bananas, apples
Crunchy: carrots, apples
Gooey: caramel can be found in a fat free dip
And, it's okay to snack occasionally on the things you want, just don't eat tons of it, and don't do it all of the time. If you deny yourself completely, you'll end up binge eating the snack you've been avoiding. There are some wonderful little things called fiber pills. (try Real Fiber or Benifiber or another brand that is carried where you live) Try taking two about once a day (be very catious though because you can get addicted to this and cause an eating disorder!) when you are the most hungry. They come in some great flavors and taste almost good after you get used to them. Take with lots of water though because they need the moisture so that your body will not take it out of the stores you need to survive. I don't buy them to keep at home...on occasion i will buy a small bag of chips with lunch or have some at a party but this is occasional and in moderation anything is ok. Its when you go and purchase the jumbo sized bag cause its on sale and sit down with it to watch a movie and polish off the whole bag thats not good.
Good luck drink a glass of water.
a glass of water with baking soda in it(to taste) can freshen your mouth and actually change your desire for ingesting some things, e.g., coffee, tobacco, etc.
a stalk of celery?
a carrot stick?
By the way, how did you determine the snack is bad for you?
What impels you to this snack? Try not to buy those items. Or limit the amount you eat. Anything in small amounts isn't bad. Its when you eat large amounts they become bad for you. Or better yet have healthy snacks close at hand, carrots, celery, fruit, or those 100 calories snacks. By healthy snacks instead of junk food. Drink lots of water, this cannot be exaggerated! Don't buy bad for you foods in the first place, at all. Only eat at home. If it isn't mealtime and you want a snack, go for a piece of fruit or some nuts. Also, brushing your teeth and gargling will actually curb your appetite for an hour or so. If you are at a friends house or somehting, politely inform the host that you are trying to improve your health and wish to refrain from unhealthy foods, most people will be understanding if you tell them this since dieting is very common these days.
Try finding some healthy foods/ snacks that you really like, and ALWAYS have them on hand so that you won't go for something less nutritious. You may also find that it is helpful to make everything from scratch... not only is this healthier than quick frozen processed foods, but during the time you take to make the meal, you aren't eating anything. Quick meals cause people to eat on average a couple extra servings of food a day, simply because they have more open time in which to eat.
It takes about 21 days to form a habit, if you can eat healthy for twenty one days straight, without fail, you are virtually home free. Don't buy the junk food. If you don't have it in the house, you will not be tempted.