Almost everyone is stuck at home these days, and many people report that they have gained a lot of weight. It doesn’t help that gyms are closed, either! The quarantine-15 is a real result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and unhealthy snacking plays a large role. A high percentage of people eat out of boredom, or they open the fridge and pantry to just see what snack or meal grabs their attention. There’s nothing wrong with eating, especially when you listen to the body’s hunger cues. You run into problems when you eat to kill time.
It’s All About Balance
Whether you decide to cook dinner or enjoy a quick snack, the key is to balance your plate. A few apple slices will only hold you over for so long. You need to make sure that your snack has a good balance of protein, fiber, healthy fats, and possibly some omega-3 fatty acids to keep you full. Celery sticks with almond butter, chia pudding, hummus and carrots, or a handful of nuts are excellent snack options that provide diverse nutrients.
Watch Your Portions
Once you start eating a snack that contains empty calories, it’s pretty easy to eat the entire thing. A bag of chips, for instance, can easily be polished off without you even realizing it. And you don’t even care that the serving size is 14 chips! During this quarantine time, you may find it beneficial to eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. Instead of eating three primary meals, consider five or six smaller meals. This method of food consumption has been known to stimulate metabolism and regulate digestion. That doesn’t mean you should eat unhealthy foods in smaller portions, though. Aim to consume meals that consist primarily of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes.
Tune Into Your Hunger
If you catch yourself staring at the fridge and have no recollection of how you got there, close the fridge immediately and walk away. When you feel the urge to get food, assess whether or not you are hungry or full. If you are a little hungry, eat a light, healthy snack. If you feel famished, make yourself a meal. The goal is to avoid eating when you aren’t hungry. Eating when you are not hungry is a recipe for weight gain or upset stomach.
We hope that you are triumphing during these strange times. If you need a little inspiration for some healthy snacks, make some of the following recipes. Don’t forget, you can always cleanse with Dherbs if you feel like you need to lose that quarantine-15.
Banana Almond Butter Chia Pudding
If you need to stop yourself from opening the pantry 30 times a day, chia pudding is right snack for you. This recipe contains fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids, all of which help to fill you up and keep cravings at bay. We promise that you’ll enjoy this dessert-like snack that you can eat guilt-free.
Click here to make the recipe.
Baked Plantain Chips
Plantains are underutilized in American cooking, but we hope to invite them into your cooking habits with this recipe. These chips are spiced with curry powder and paprika, and those rich, fragrant flavors entice the taste buds with each crunch.
Click here to make the recipe.
Fig Energy Bites
Processed fig bars can contain over three different types of sugars. You don’t want to put corn syrup, cane sugar, and added sweeteners in your body because all of these can lead to more cravings and weight gain. Make your own fig bars in bite-size form instead!
Click here to make the recipe.
Dehydrated Salt And Vinegar Kale Chips
When you open a bag of chips, it’s hard not to dive in and eat the entire bag. The worst part is that you can eat that bag and still be hungry. This is because they contain no nutritional value. Crunch on kale chips instead! Not only are they extremely delicious, but they are also healthier than chemically processed chips.
Click here to make the recipe.
Chewy Peanut Butter Balls
When the mid-morning or mid-afternoon hunger strikes, you need a snack that will keep you full until your next meal. Snack on a couple of these protein-filled peanut butter balls! You may find that they are great to increase energy levels and productivity towards the end of the workday.
Click here to make the recipe.
