Snack attack

The UK has the most overweight and obese people in Europe. It also has the largest number of snack fans. While some people benefit from eating little and often (for example, those who are very physically active, or who suffer from IBS), most of us only really need two or three meals a day to keep going.

A report last year on consumer snacking found that only half of snackers are driven by hunger, with the rest of us using food to fulfil our emotional needs (sadness, boredom or happiness).

But if you’re used to elevenses and afternoon biccies, how can you break that hard-wired habit? For one thing, improving the quality of your meals – by including protein, slow-release carbs and plenty of veg – should help take the edge off real hunger.

“I encourage my patients to reconnect with raw, fresh food,” says Laure. “If your cells are fed with the exact nutrients they need, they won’t request any more food an hour after eating, so goodbye sweet cravings!”

If you feel physically hungry and can’t help yourself reaching for a snack, try to avoid refined sugar; replace biscuits with an oatcake and crunchy peanut butter with no added sugar, a handful of unsalted almonds, olives, or celery and a small amount of hummus.

“Refined sugar has a high glycaemic index,” says Laure. “That means it will cause your blood sugar to rise very fast, which then stimulates a high production of insulin (the hormone that regulates your blood sugar). Insulin promotes fat storage, so will convert all this sugar into fat to be stored, instead of using it as a source of energy.” Not to mention wearing off in record time, leaving you with cravings for more sugar – leading to a vicious cycle of snack habits.