TRI TASTES
Crave That? Eat This!
Even though I’m a nutritionist, I’m also human. Cravings hit me all the time. I do try to keep things on the healthier end, but sometimes, well, I fall off the healthy wagon – and directly into chocolate land.
Now that it’s time for resolutions, what do you eat when the cravings hit? I always tend to lean toward sweet, but sometimes, just sometimes, if a bowl of something deliciously salty is placed in front of me, I just can’t help myself. Because, once again, I’m human. Sound familiar? It’s a common issue, and we all have cravings. I have some solutions for you that can help you stay on track, but satisfy that sweet, salty or crunchy treat when you need it most.
SWEET Greek yogurt mixed with banana and flax seeds
Sometimes the sweetness of a ripe banana is all you need, while the creamy protein from the yogurt and the fibre from the flax will fill you up and keep you satisfied.
Coconut chocolate frozen banana
Peel a ripe banana and place it on a popsicle stick or straw. Roll in 1 tbsp of melted dark chocolate and then sprinkle with unsweetened coconut flakes. Place on some parchment paper in the freezer. When a craving hits you, it will be waiting.
Nice cream
Have you heard of this amazing treat? Nice cream is the next best thing to the real indulgence of ice cream when you’re trying to maintain a healthy diet. You can buy a machine that turns frozen bananas into “ice cream,” or you can just blend frozen bananas in your blender and eat it right away. Yup, that’s it. You can make any flavour you want: strawberry, vanilla, chocolate chip. Just be warned: it’s addictive.
Fruit
Yes, I’m serious. Hello fresh strawberries or peaches. Dipped in yogurt? Divine.
CRUNCHY Veggie sticks (cucumber, carrots, etc.)
There aren’t a lot of things crunchier than good ol’ veggie sticks.
Nuts
Need I say more? Just grab a handful, otherwise you’re walking into super-high fat territory.
Roasted chickpeas
You can make these yourself, or you can buy a bag of them. Either way, they are scrumptious and oh-so-crispy and crunchy.
Frozen grapes
Sweet and crunchy? Yup. These frozen treats have saved me many a night when I’ve had a bad craving for something cold and crisp.
Apple slices with nut butter
I find sweetango or honey crisp apples to be the crunchiest, but it’s a personal preference.
SALTY Edamame with sea salt
You can find shelled edamame in the freezer section of your grocery store, but buying it still in the pods is a great way to get your fix and slow down your snacking. If you have to get each and every little soybean out of its pod, you’ll probably end up eating less, but still satisfying that craving.
Sunflower and pumpkin seeds
Again, sunflower seeds that are still in their shell are a great way to combat eating out of boredom without all the extra calories. Just be careful – some varieties can be really heavily salted.
Kale chips
Make a batch of these one afternoon and keep them for a special treat.
Pickles
Not just for pregnant women anymore. Grab a few pickles and your craving will be zapped as quickly as it happened. They’re truly magical.
Miso soup
Another power-packed snack is this protein-loaded soup. Not only does it contain tofu, but miso itself is a fermented soybean product. Curb your cravings while getting a nice dose of probiotics.
Seaweed
The latest superfood. It’s salty and full of vitamin B12, calcium, iodine and tons of other great stuff. But it’s also a soluble fibre, meaning it will slow down the absorption of sugar and cholesterol in the body. Eat this before bed and you’re doing yourself a huge favour.
The biggest piece of advice I can give, if you really don’t want to eat badly, is to not keep the bad stuff in the house. Honestly, you know you’re going to eat it eventually. If it’s not there, you won’t. And, maybe, you’ll choose one of these awesome options instead and wake up guilt-free in the morning.
Follow holistic nutritional consultant Seanna Thomas at nutritionnaire.com