It’s a really familiar situation: You eat a nutritious breakfast, pack a salad, and eat a healthy lunch. You eat better, avoid junk and everything goes smoothly… well into the afternoon.
Around 3pm is when cravings all the time hit. When your stomach tells you you want carbs and sugar, and those break room snacks are irresistible. You start convincing yourself that one candy bar will not hurt anything.
Almost everybody has experienced this feeling of hunger. The trick is, knowing how to handle it. These five tips will show you some of the best ways to manage and beat this craving.
Are you hungry or thirsty?
When hunger pangs first strike, take a step back to ask yourself if you need food or only a few ounces of water. People often mistake thirst for hunger, and the solution here might be to stay hydrated throughout the day. Keep a water bottle on your desk and refill it often.
Get the right type of protein.
Experts often recommend increasing your protein intake to stay full, but not just any protein will do; You need to be sure that you are getting the right type of protein. For example, the casein protein found in Muuna cheese allows your body to digest more slowly and keeps you full longer. With flavors like strawberry, blueberry, pineapple, peach, mango, black cherry, raspberry, vanilla and plain, satisfying your hunger has never tasted better.
Add some spice to your life.
Studies have shown that spices like cayenne pepper can help curb hunger. Other spices such as turmeric, curry powder, ginger and chili powder may have an identical effect. So be generous with your spices. You’ll get an added kick to your meal and stave off mid-afternoon hunger pangs.
The food you crave won’t satisfy.
It’s tempting to think that a frozen scone or a piece of toast is your ticket to a full stomach. In fact, a diet consisting of refined carbohydrates and much of sugar is metabolized quickly, leaving you hungry and craving more food. Instead, choose foods that are high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Here again, Muuna cottage cheese can help with a protein content of up to 19 grams and only 4 grams of carbohydrates per serving.
It’s all in your mind.
Often our minds play tricks on us. Cravings for hunger in the afternoon may not be as a result of an empty stomach, but rather the brain has been programmed to tell you to grab a sweet snack at a certain time. The feeling will pass and ultimately you’re going to get out of the rut.
If your hunger pangs persist, make sure to have high-protein snacks like the rich and creamy Muuna cottage cheese. Loaded with protein and filled with calcium, potassium and probiotics, it is a delicious and nutritious way to keep you going all day.
