To stay in shape, you must avoid snacking between meals, a habit that is easier said than done when you are hungry… Unless you follow the advice of a dietician.
- You must eat well and in sufficient quantity during meals to limit snacking.
- Allowing yourself to snack is not prohibited, you must savor and become aware of your feeling of hunger.
- Snacking is often linked to a lack, which must be identified to limit hunger.
“Over the course of a day, the diet is organized around three main meals, taken at fixed times for good regulation of the body.”, can we read on the website of health insurance.
Eat well during meals to avoid snacking
Apart from these three meals – even when the diet is balanced – snacking can be responsible for weight gain. It is therefore recommended to limit them as much as possible. Thus, in a video InstagramClaire Trommenschlager, dietitian, gives three tips to avoid this bad habit.
The first is to eat well – and in sufficient quantity – at each meal. “Wanting to be careful is good, but if you start to deprive yourself too much, you overcompensate, it’s no use, she explains. Make sure you have vegetables, proteins and starchy foods at each meal. And yes, even starchy foods in the evening.”
The second is to take the time to eat and without feeling guilty. “If you want to snack in the evening, embrace this desireshe advises. Prepare a small tray with a hot drink, a nutrient such as cottage cheese, skyr and/or fruit and on top of that you add your pleasure food: cake, chocolate, etc. And there you sit and enjoy.”
Understanding the feeling of hunger to avoid snacking
But you also need to be aware of your feeling of hunger: refocus on it and understand it. “You eat consciously and when the pleasure diminishes, you stop, underlines Claire Trommenschlager. You do this every evening and I assure you that day after day, it will decrease.”
Finally, last advice: identify the lack linked to this need to eat. “If it’s fatigue, rest more, the solution is not in the fridge, advises the dietician. If it’s stress, choose something that will relax you when you get home from work, like sports, even better. Whatever your feelings, food isn’t really the answer.”
According to Health Insurance, an afternoon snack or snack is not prohibited. However, it is recommended to “respect a 2-hour delay between this snack and the next meal” and of “favor fruits, vegetables and whole grain products.”