Don’t Let Dieting Make You Hungry
The worst part about starting a diet is knowing that you are going to be hungry. We are instinctually made to avoid feeling hunger. When we start to get that grumbling in our stomachs, the first thing we want to do is end that feeling by eating something. It can be hard to talk ourselves out of stuffing our faces in these moments, especially if you are surrounded by fattening foods that you are trying to avoid.
It can be really easy to justify your bad food choices when your tummy is telling you to feed it, even if you are trying to lose weight. The good news is that diets don’t always have to equate to hunger. In fact, there are some low fat, low calorie foods that will keep you full during your time of need, making it easier to eat less without getting hangry (hungry & angry).
Apples
You wouldn’t think that such a common fruit would have such extraordinary dieting powers. It turns out apples contain a substance called pectin that slows down the digestion process, causing you to feel full longer. Just make sure you are eating a whole apple. Just drinking the juice doesn’t have the same effect.
Eggs
One of my favorite foods, eggs have a remarkable way of effecting your calorie consumption throughout the day. It turns out that people who ate eggs in the morning ate about 350 less calories in their day than people who ate bread-based breakfasts, such as toast, bagels or cereal, according to a study done at St. Louis University. The high protein and amino acid content acts as natural appetite suppressant, telling your brain that you have eaten enough food for the day.
Oats
There is a reason that warm oat cereal is referred to as a “stick to your ribs” meal. The high fiber breakfast keeps you feeling full until lunchtime, or sometimes well after, because of it’s ability to absorb liquids. This keeps your belly filled, curbing the need to snack in between meals. It also takes a while for oats to get through your digestive tract, keeping you feeling satisfied for hours.
Figs
The great thing about figs is how sweet they are without spiking blood sugar. Not only can they help satisfy your sweet tooth, but their unctuous, fleshy mouth feel makes them a satisfying, filling snack that will keep you full without packing on the pounds. This high fiber fruit actually slows down the release of sugar into the blood stream, warding off after meal food foraging.
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Sidney SL Lam