How To Stop Snacking: Better Alternatives For Snacking!

Though none of us would admit it, most of us have snacking as our favorite hobby. For some, it is cathartic while for some it is just plain simple fun. Anyhow, munching on something while watching movies or TV shows is not unheard of across all ages. But is it really good for health?

Occasional snacking cannot be harmful. However, that is not the case with obsessive habits. If you are someone who is addicted to snacking and it is hampering your weight loss journey as well you might want to pay closer attention to this blog. We will be giving you tips on how to stop snacking effectively and show you a way towards a brighter tomorrow.

Ways To Stop Snacking

You might think what’s wrong with a little munching, it’s not like you are harming anyone. But let us tell you this you are harming yourself. Before we get into how to stop snacking we should probably tell you the reasons why you should take this step.

Primarily, snacking is the number one reason why people cannot maintain their weight. Since it is not consciously done, you end up eating more than you bargained for. Secondarily, if you are someone who is new to the whole healthy eating thing, then you might want to start by stopping munching. Not only does it give you extra calories but skip the sugar and salt.

Another reason why you must consider stopping snacking is because it can lead to blood sugar level fluctuation. That is self-explanatory. Additionally, eating at irregular times can cause a lot of digestive problems which are not easy to be dealt with and to avoid unwanted ailments, you should steer clear of snacks. Lastly, you should stop for the sake of your teeth. Not everyone washes their mouth frequently which leads to the growth of bacteria leading to plaque in your teeth. 

We would now like to enlighten you with some steps you can take to put a halt to this harming habit-

1. Use smaller plates and bowls– This is especially effective in the scenario that we eat without control most time. When we are snacking, we hardly measure it and unknowingly we might devour packets that are sugar and calories combined. So decreasing the size of your bowls can prevent it to an extent.

2. Drink a lot of water– Most times we end up snacking when we are really not hungry. Yes. Next time before you reach for a snack packet, try drinking some water and then see the magic. We often confuse thirst with hunger and that is as uncomplicated as it gets. 

3. Plan your meals and eat well– We often snack when we don’t get proper nutrition from our meals. So it is important that you plan your meals ahead and prepare a balanced meal with all the required ingredients.

4. Choose smaller snack packs– Supermarkets deliberately market larger snack packets. That is business to them but for you, it is no gamble. So before you wean off the habit completely, you can start picking smaller quantities of snacks. This will decrease the amount of calories you consume.

5. Serve in taller glasses and smaller dishes–  This creates the illusion that you are not deprived of food and probably eating more than necessary. Later on, when you pick up a snack, your brain will trick you into thinking that you did eat enough and can live without the extra sodium.

6. Eat slowly– The pace at which we eat also decides how hungry we might feel later on. If you are a fast eater, chances are you will end up feeling hungry within hours of eating a sumptuous meal. To prevent that, you can pace your consumption time.

7. Make your meals protein-rich– Protein keeps hunger at bay by keeping you fuller for long periods. Adding protein to your food can skip the unwanted snacking you might be addicted to.

8. Don’t buy a lot of snacks– Along with reducing the size of snack packets, you should gradually stop buying the snacks altogether.  If it is out of your sight it won’t take long to go out of your mind.

9. Find better ways to meet your cravings– Just because you don’t buy snacks, your mind won’t absolutely abandon the idea of snacking altogether. In situations like this, you can choose to cut fruits or vegetables. Additionally, seeds or healthy nuts can be an excellent replacement. However, you should still be mindful of the quantity you are consuming. Remember, anything in larger portions can affect your weight loss like everything else.

10. Sleep longer– Sleep deprivation can cause all sorts of chemical reactions in your brain. It can mess up hormone secretion and make you find solace in empty calories gained by emotional eating. So in case you are wondering why and how to stop snacking, this should be your cue. Don’t compromise your sleep at any cost.

We hope our How to Stop Snacking blog helped you in multiple ways. It is not only for the ones considering losing some weight but for people who are suffering from a life-threatening disease. It can also be helpful for people dealing with mental health issues to develop better-coping mechanisms and not indulge in emotional eating. Overall snacking is not a habit you should promote. In fact, it should be nipped in the bud, and for that, we think the above steps could be useful.