5 reasons you’re always starving
A foolproof plan to keep hunger from gnawing away at your weight-loss goals.
You’re driving along on your way to work, to the gym, or to pick up the kids and—bam—it hits you—that overwhelming gnawing hunger. The next thing you know, you’re pulling into a drive through and ordering up a storm.
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We asked leading nutritionists to share with us the five most common reasons you’re frequently famished, as well as their top tips for maximising satisfaction and keeping hunger at bay.
1. PROBLEM: Right foods - wrong times.
Haphazard eating can make it hard to tune into your body's true hunger signals.
SOLUTION: Plan ahead.
Start writing down what you eat and pay attention to when you eat at erratic times. Then, says Moore, write out a schedule that focuses on eating every 3 to 5 hours.
2. PROBLEM: You eat breakfast, just not the right kind.
Your breakfast choice can have a major impact on how satisfied you feel for the rest of the day. If you have a cereal bar - the simple sugars may have you rummaging through the fridge well before lunch.
SOLUTION: Build a better mix of nutrients.
“Combine protein with some complex carbs to provide sustained energy throughout the morning,” says Moore. Opt for a slice of low-fat cheese on grainy bread, egg on toast or wholegrain cereal with low-fat milk.
3. PROBLEM: Your diet is flawless but flavorless.
If plain grilled chicken and steamed veggies are on your dinner plate every night, you could be headed for trouble. “You’re going to get bored and eventually have difficulty sticking with your weight-loss plan,” says Lona Sandon, RD.
SOLUTION: Spice it up.
“Experiment with fresh herbs, like basil and mint,” suggests Moore. Add a dash of balsamic vinegar or sweetness with a teaspoon of honey. Texture is also key: Aim for combinations of crunchy and chewy. Try tossing chopped nuts on your greens.
4. PROBLEM: You stockpile kilojoules.
Do you often eat sparingly during the day that by the time dinner rolls around you’re starved? “By evening you're starved and less concerned with the implications of what you eat,” says Sandon.
SOLUTION: Spread out the kilojoules.
Limit the size of your evening meal, so that you wake up eager for breakfast. “Treat yourself the way you’d treat your kids — you wouldn’t let them skip meals,” says Moore.
5. PROBLEM: You drink your meals.
With the ever-increasing popularity of lattes for breakfast and smoothies for lunch, many of us are drinking our kilojoules away, but beverages can ultimately leave you feeling unsatisfied.
SOLUTION: Rethink convenience.
“Try a slice of toast with peanut butter or a cup of yogurt with some fruit,” says Sandon. It's as quick to prepare as ordering a coffee. If it’s the comfort of a hot drink you crave, go ahead and have that latte — just order it with skim milk.
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