I dont know about all of you, but I LOVE to eat all the wrong things. I have a huge sweet tooth but what I have found is that many foods that are good for you, can help your curb your craving and your hunger in one serving!
When growing up, I was a meat and potatoes girl. My dad had to have it with every meal and my mom willingly obliged. So now, I have a tendancy to select poultry when deciding on the "meat" portion of a meal. Within the last 5 years, I have added fish to my diet. Seasoned properly, some fish can be just as juicy as a nice piece of chicken! :) Fish is one of the most concentrated sources of protein that we can obtain, which is critical when it comes to satisfying hunger! Most fish is much lower in fat compared with meat or poultry so you get more protein per bite.
One of my favorite vegetables is Broccoli. Not only is it calorie-free fiber and water, it also fills you up without adding additional weight or breaking your budget! Broccoli is very inexpensive and can be steam and boiled. Try to avoid adding cheese and butter to them as those will not help in maintaining your healty eating habits. Added as a side dish to fish makes an amazing dinner or lunch!
Berries can be one of those good for you foods that help curb that sweet tooth cravings. Berries are the fruit that is highest in fiber. YOu can eat a cup of berries or add them to yogurt or cottage cheese for extra flavor and to help fill your tummy. I often buy the frozen berries to add to my meal replacement shakes. It not only provides flavor, but that little extra to fill up my stomach.
Nonfat Greek style yogurt is a good source of protein and will also help curb that sweet tooth craving. Eat it for dessert alone or add some berries for a filling, high protein dessert that will satisfy and make you feel great about maintaining healthier habits when eating.
I am half Mexican and growing up, when we ate beans, they were pinto. It is what my mother knew. It wasnt until recently that I began eating black beans. Yum! Where have they "bean" all my life! Pinto beans were so good but heavy. They made me feel too full and sluggish. Black beans allow me to still have the ability to move and be active without sacraficing my hunger. They also are high in fiber and have a decent amount of protein. Which is why black beans are typically a "meat" replacement for vegetarians. It can be served with salads, soups or as a side to help creating a meal that will sufficiently fulfill your hunger cravings.
I find vegetable soup to be one of the best weapons againt hunger. I am a huge fan of soup, especially when counting calories and satisfying hunger. Vegetable able soup is low in calories and is very filling because of the amount of water it contains. If you are looking to help maintain meal portions, a cup of vegetable soup (or broth based soup) is a great way to beginm a meal. It will fill you up enough that you will eat a smaller portion of the main course. Often I will eat a bowl of broth based soup for lunch with 2 saltine crackers and be completely full until my afternoon snack! Be careful of cream based soups, though delicious, the calories and pounds will add up quickly if you do not watch how much of it is consumed regularly.
Quinoa is a whole grain that is filled with fiber. I have just recently read about it and teh benefits of eating quinoa that I am currently looking into trying it in some of our meals at home. So I cannot really speak on it from a personal perspective, I will try it and see if it is something that can work for us. I have read that they hold more water than ‘drier’ grain foods like crackers or pretzels, which helps makes them more fillig. Quinoa can be ready in 15 minutes, instead of 30-40 like barley and brown rice. So for the commuter person who spends most o ftheir time in the car, this is a good alternative for a quick meal. You can find a pluthura of recipes on the Food Network or just google quinoa recipes for many main dish or side dish options!
I know it is a struggle to eat healthy. I spend over 3 hours a day in a car commutting to and from work. Sure there are plenty of fast options, but ultimately, I have to consider my health over that very easy and simple quick fix meal.
When growing up, I was a meat and potatoes girl. My dad had to have it with every meal and my mom willingly obliged. So now, I have a tendancy to select poultry when deciding on the "meat" portion of a meal. Within the last 5 years, I have added fish to my diet. Seasoned properly, some fish can be just as juicy as a nice piece of chicken! :) Fish is one of the most concentrated sources of protein that we can obtain, which is critical when it comes to satisfying hunger! Most fish is much lower in fat compared with meat or poultry so you get more protein per bite. One of my favorite vegetables is Broccoli. Not only is it calorie-free fiber and water, it also fills you up without adding additional weight or breaking your budget! Broccoli is very inexpensive and can be steam and boiled. Try to avoid adding cheese and butter to them as those will not help in maintaining your healty eating habits. Added as a side dish to fish makes an amazing dinner or lunch!
Nonfat Greek style yogurt is a good source of protein and will also help curb that sweet tooth craving. Eat it for dessert alone or add some berries for a filling, high protein dessert that will satisfy and make you feel great about maintaining healthier habits when eating.
I know it is a struggle to eat healthy. I spend over 3 hours a day in a car commutting to and from work. Sure there are plenty of fast options, but ultimately, I have to consider my health over that very easy and simple quick fix meal.
