When stress arrives, it doesn’t just occupy your mind – it often shows up in your body as powerful cravings. That sudden urge for a sweet treat or crunchy snack isn’t a sign of weakness.
It is your body’s instinctive response to feeling under pressure. Understanding why stress makes you crave sugar is the first step toward shifting the story. Let me share what you can do to reduce stress-driven cravings.
Snacking often gets a bad rap, but when done right, it can be a powerful tool to keep your energy levels steady, curb cravings, and even support your overall health goals. The key is to choose foods that nourish your body rather than satisfy a momentary craving. To help you do that, here is a guide to smart snacking.
Contrary to what you may think, snacking isn’t just about filling the gap between meals. It’s about providing your body with the nutrients it needs to maintain energy, support cognitive function, and keep your metabolism running smoothly. When you snack wisely, you can avoid the blood sugar spikes and crashes that lead to fatigue, irritability, and overeating later in the day.
Are you struggling to eat better and avoid junk foods? I know I was. My journey from a junk food upbringing was a long and bumpy journey. My friends made fun of me for always being sick. I often wonder whether I wouldn’t have had as many health problems if I were raised to eat better. Here’s how I went from junk food to healthy eating.
Do you find yourself drawn to sweets when you see them? If you have a sweet tooth, you know how difficult it is to resist. Sugar is a very addictive substance, and eliminating it is not easy. Yet I’m happy to say that it is possible to tame your sweet tooth by employing some strategies.
Stop buying those sweet treats to stock your pantry – or your desk. If it’s not easily accessible, you are less likely to eat it. Discover nature’s natural sweets with fruit that provide nutrients along with the sweet taste – eat the fruit rather than drinking juice to reduce the effect of sugar on your body. Berries are low in sugar and are full of beneficial antioxidants. Cinnamon is a fantastic spice that makes your food taste sweeter without added sugar. It even helps regulate blood sugar levels. Read more
Do you snack in between meals? It’s not unusual to need a small snack between your three larger meals to keep you sustained throughout the day. This helps your blood sugar stay balanced, which also helps with mood and energy. But take a stroll down the snack aisle at your local grocery store, and you’ll find a lot of packaged foods that aren’t beneficial to your health. How do you choose snacks that sustain you between meals?
There’s an equation you can use to make sure you are snacking in a way benefits you the most. After all, you’re less likely to overeat or crash during the day when your body has a steady stream of nutrients to fuel it. Here are some essential snacking tips to help keep you sustained throughout the day. Read more
How has your life changed in the last weeks since we have been pressed to shelter at home? Have board games or puzzles provided a renewed source of entertainment? Are you cooking more meals yourself and eating nutrient-dense food?
During COVID-19 and beyond, eating a healthful diet is more important than ever. When you anticipate a battle, you want to be sure your army is up for the fight. That would be your immune system. Michael Pollan has said that cooking and preparing our food is more than half the battle when it comes to eating well. Read more
When you want to improve the way you are eating, home-cooked meals are the best context for success. Yet you may think that your busy schedule leaves you with no hope for making your own meals, even if such an approach would save you money. The answer? Meal prep hacks.
I completely understand. I hope to show you some hacks that could work for your unique schedule and lifestyle. Read more
Do you remember much of the periodic table of elements from Chemistry class? Though I never learned the elements in high school, I’m gaining more respect for them these days. Especially #12 – magnesium. Magnesium is a nutritional powerhouse.
If you’ve played on a sports team, I’m sure you’ve experienced the normal dynamics of a couple leading players and many supporting ones. Magnesium is a supporting player that many of us are lacking.
Read more
I’m sure you have heard of the “meatless Monday” movement. The idea is to have one day a week when you focus on eating plant-based meals and take a break from animal proteins. Another approach is to change one meal a day to plant-based foods. For many, this has been an interesting exercise that encourages them to think outside our cultural norm.
You know that I encourage including protein, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates in your meals for a balanced nutritional benefit. You may be wondering how to do this when planning a meatless meal. It’s not hard at all. Read more
If your metabolism is running at a healthy level, it burns off your calories and keeps you feeling energized. Exercise and plenty of sleep help your metabolism function optimally, but are you disrupting your metabolism with certain foods you eat?
These foods could be reducing the metabolic fire you count on to keep things running optimally. Read more
