Even if we throw in more workouts than we normally do during this time, we still need to make sure to keep our diet in check. We don’t need to start a full weight loss diet, food is something we should enjoy, but there are tips and tricks to eat what you want and still feel good about yourself. Take a look at these ideas to help trick your brain and keep your waistline.
Brush your teeth!: After you brush your teeth, you are less likely to snack. Brush your teeth to tell yourself you are done, and to stay fresh!
Snack Prep: We have heard of meal prepping for the week, but why stop there. The thing we seem to grab as a snack is whatever is available quick. This is normally the chips and junk, but it doesn’t have to be. When you are cutting one cucumber, or bell pepper, or whatever vegetable of your choice for dinner, take the couple minutes to cut up one or two extra to put in the fridge for later. Now you can grab this vegetable to snack on later to keep you away from those chips. Vegetables are just as easily available.
Portion your snacks: Most of the time, the problem is not what we are eating, but instead how much we are eating. If you choose to eat chips or snacky foods, pull out a hand full and then put the bag away. This way, you are not endlessly reaching in the bag. Same thing if you are eating in front of the TV. Often times we forget we are snacking and mindlessly eat until we suddenly realize the bag is gone!
Bored or Hungry?: Get out of the kitchen. Do your work in your room or somewhere other than the kitchen table. When I am bored, I venture to the fridge, even though I’m not hungry. This doesn’t stop me from eating when I don’t need it. Just because I want something to do, doesn’t mean that activity needs to be eating.
Switch Outs: Make little changes like Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, brown rice instead of white, popcorn instead of chips, frozen yogurt instead of ice cream. Try tzakiki instead of dips, or add salsa for some extra vegetables and flavor.
Get Creative: We have plenty of time to try some new recipes. Grab healthy recipes from online. Make it a goal to try one new, healthy recipe each week. Even if only a couple are keepers, you have new dinner options AND healthy changes.
Small Plates: Eat dinner off a smaller plate. Instinctually, we like to fill the whole plate with food, our eyes are always bigger than our stomachs. If you fill up the smaller plate, it will make your portions look bigger and can trick you into filling up faster.
Pecking Order: With a full dinner plate in front of you, eat the greens first. The beginning of the meal is when you are most hungry, so if you start by eating your greens, you will be sure to finish them, rather than getting full on carbs before you eat your broccoli.
Switch to Light: Nothing wrong with enjoying ranch, just switch to light! Switch out for a low-calorie coffee creamer. If you enjoy it, don’t cut it out of your diet completely, just switch it a low-calorie version of the same thing.
Bubbly: Soda is known to be super high in calories, but sometimes we need some carbonation. Grab sparkling water instead. Still get the carbonation you need, but not the calories to go along with it.
