When Hunger Strikes

Wednesday, 09. 9. 2009  –  Category: Heart Health

You know the feeling.  You’re hungry, practically FAMISHED, and there’s no food.  You wait and wait, you build up anticipation, and when you finally get to eat…you usually overdo it.

Well, don’t.

As hard as we all try to lead good, healthy, well-scheduled lives with regular, beneficial meals and proper planning, it doesn’t always work that way.  Sometimes you just can’t help it.  Whether you’ve had a really busy, hard day and haven’t had time to stop, or you haven’t had time to go grocery shopping and there’s (literally) nothing to eat, we’ve all been there.

My first tidbit of advice to fight the Hunger Monster is to carry a healthy snack.  Granola, snack bars, fruit…all of these things come in great, heart-healthy options.  Find something that is rich in fiber and doesn’t need refrigeration.  This means that you can keep it with you, and the fiber will help tide you over longer.  Fatty or sugar foods only fill you for so long and supply a quick burst of energy.  This means you’ll be hungry again soon and you’ll crash.  That is never what you want!

A hearty breakfast can keep you going and push back your hunger response.  Something like oatmeal or fiber-rich breakfast cereal with low-fat milk can make a great start.  Once again, get the fiber!  Breakfast is a must to start off any day right, but it’s especially important if you’re worried that you’ll have to take a late lunch (or even miss it altogether).  Missing meals is never a good idea, but you should always have a back-up plan if there’s a chance that you can’t fit in a meal!

If you still have that deep hunger, the kind that makes you want to stuff your face as soon as you sit down to a real meal, take a second to breathe.  It may seem hard, given how hungry you are, but you need to think clearly.  When you do get started, eat slowly.  Chances are, you’ll fill up way faster that you thought!  Don’t overfill your plate, either.  You’re going to want to eat all of that food, so only do small servings.  You’ll be more likely to slowly enjoy smaller portions, and you’ll waste less food.

No one can control all of the variables that effect where, when, how, and what you eat.  While control and planning is a valuable tool for your health, sometimes you just have to accept that nothing can be perfect, even your diet.  So, when those times strike, be sure to use your head.  A proper diet is vital to taking good care of your heart, and you can be heart healthy even when your meals don’t go as planned.

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