Some days, my hunger did not politely. It showed up like an uninvited guest. Usually around 11 in the morning. Then again at five in the evening. I used to think I liked discipline. I blame myself to open biscuit packets, finish Namkeen without noticing or grabbing sweets with tea, but later I realise something very simple. I was not planning for hunger. I was pretending it could come.That’s when I started keeping healthy snacks to control hunger between meals ready before I actually needed them and strangely once I planned my health E snacks to control hunger between males, my cravings is stopped feeling like emergencies.
Hunger is not the enemy
For a long time than I treated hunger like a problem. I thought feeling hungry meant my diet was working. It does not. Real hunger, when ignored turns into over eating later. Your body does not forget that you skipped food. It waits. Then it ask loudly. Once I understood this, I stop trying to fight hunger and started preparing for it.
The visibility trick that changed everything
One small change made a big difference. I stopped hiding fruits in inside the fridge. I kept them on the table. Apples, bananas, oranges, whatever was a reason. And something funny happened. I started eating them without thinking too much. Biscuits are visible. So I ate biscuits. Now fruits are visible, so I ate fruit fruits.
Roasted Channa be become my desk partner
I still remember buying roasted Channa randomly from a local shop. It was cheap, light and easy to carry. I kept a jar near my workspace. Whenever I felt like munching on something than I grabbed a handful of nuts . It is crunchy, feeling and rich in fibre and protein. A small portion goes along way.
Nuts work, better than any package snack
I had always your nurses are healthy, but I thought they are fattening. Later, I learned portion matter. A small handful of almond, peanut or walnut in the evening kept me full and stopped me for searching for fried snacks. They satisfied that urge to chew on something without making me feel happy.
Curd was more than just a side dish
Curd slowly turned into one of my favourite snacks. Sometimes I added salt or roasted cumin. Sometimes fruit. Sometimes just plain. It felt cooling, light and filling at the same time. Especially during hot afternoon, it work perfectly.
The banana and peanut butter habit
This combination make my evening rescue. Whenever I felt that strong hunger before dinner, ice sliced a banana and added a spoon of peanut butter. It tasted like desert after work like a proper snack. It gave me energy and stopped me from over later.
Boiled eggs saved me many times
Whenever I boiled eggs for breakfast, I kept too extra in the fridge. In the evening when hunger hit, I did not have to think. I just ate them with a little salt and paper. Protein has a special way of controlling hunger. I noticed this again and again.
Sprouts added freshness
I started soaking move overnight with without any big plan. Just to try something different. Mixed with onion, tomato, lemon and salt. It become a refreshing snack that felt light but feeling. On days when I did not want to dry snacks, this felt perfect.
I replaced a chips with home-made popcorn
I love crunchy snacks with tea. That habit did not go away. But instead of chips, I started making simple popcorn at home without butter. It satisfied the craving for something crispy without making me guilty.
Timing my snacks before extreme hunger
Earlier I waited till I was very hungry. By then, I would eat anything. Now I eat snacks when I feel the first signing of hunger. Not when I feel desperate. This small shift stopped me a lot of over eating.
Drinking water before eating
Many times, I realised I was just 30. I drink a glass of water first. If I still feel hungry after a few minutes, then I eat. This prevented my unnecessary snacks.
Coconut water and peanuts on busy days
On days, when I did not have to prepare anything, Coconut water and a handful of peanuts work well. It fell light, but give enough energy to continue working without feeling dull.
Why this snacks work?
I slowly noticed a pattern. All this snack had either fibre, protein or healthy fats. That is why they work. They kept me full for longer and prevented sudden hunger spikes. Biscuits and sweetness never did that. They made me angry again and very quickly.
Snacks, I stopped key, keeping at home
Practical step helped me a lot. I stopped buying large packet of biscuits, chips, and namkeen. If they were not at home, I could not eat them mindless. What you keep around you decide what you eat.
A few combinations that work well
- Apple with a few almonds
- Banana with peanut butter
- Curd with fruits or cumin
- Roasted Channa with tea
- Boiled egg with salt and pepper
- Sprouts salad salad with lemon
- Popcorn with black salt
Simple, affordable and quick.
Listening to my body instead of the clock
Some days, I did not feel hungry between me. I did not force a snacks. Other days, I need something twice. I listen to that without Guilt. This made the habits sustainable.
Preparing snacks and advanced help
Keeping boiled eggs ready. Soaking is sprout at night. Feeling the net nuts jar. Washing fruits and keeping them visible. These tiny preparation remove the excuses of nothing healthy is available.
How my evening changed
Evening used to be a very biggest time. That is when I overrated the most. Now, evenings feel calm. I have my tea, my plant snacks and I did not feel out of control. That one change improved my entire eating routine.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Do snacks causes weight gain?
A: Unplanned, unhealthy snacks can. Planned, healthy snacks, actually prevent over eating and help me in weight control.
Q: How much should a snack be?
A: Just enough to control hunger. Not enough to replace a full meal.
Q: Can I connect twice a day?
A: Yes. Mid morning and evening snacks are perfectly fine.
Q: What if I do not feel hungry between me?
A: Then you do not need a snack. Eat only when you feel genuine hunger.
Q: Our fruits alone enough as a snack?
A: Sometimes, yes, but combination fruits with nuts or curd, keep you full for longer.
Conclusion
Planning healthy snacks to control hunger between meals, changed my relationship with food more than any strict diet. I did. I stopped blaming myself for feeling hungry and started preparing for it instead. Once I kept the right healthy snacks to control hunger between meals within reach micro cravings, stopped controlling me. My meals become more balanced, my evenings become more calmer and eating a stop feeling like a constant struggle.
