BREAKING BAD

I am a serial snacker! I had over the last few years gotten into such a habit of eating snacks at certain times that it was more mindless than truly tuned into my body’s hunger cues. Starting somewhere in my student life where snacks started to replace my actual meals (hello! bad mess food) and moving into my adult life where snacks were the easier option to cooking, it became a lifestyle choice. My weekly grocery shop were dominated by snacks, most of them unhealthy to last me through hunger pangs and boredom.

This year has been exceptionally difficult for most of us and with the pandemic still looming large, processed food has been something that I’ve been reaching out for more than ever for some comfort in these uncertain times. Truth be told I’m not alone in this, data suggests that sale of processed food has increased significantly since pandemic started and #stayathome orders were issued in most countries around the globe.

However, a few months into this ordeal and a few extra pounds later, I’ve finally decided it is time to kick this habit and become more intentional towards the food choices I make.

So, here’s the list of changes I am making towards a more mindful and healthier lifestyle.

Don’t bring the devil home

Keeping junk food in your home is the worst mistake you can make if you're trying to break an unhealthy eating habit. A house full of snacks can easily lead to binge eating, stress eating, eating out of boredom, and late-night snacking. The foods that are easiest to reach for are the ones you're most likely to take. Hence, I limit the number of snacks I bring into my house. It is less likely that I will make a grocery run when I’m craving a late-night snack and hence resort to a healthier snacking option to satisfy my craving.

Plan thou act

I’ve introduced the concept of planned weekly grocery shopping which extends to my snacks as well. I plan my meals in advance (i.e. make a list of lunch and dinner recipes that I want to cook during the week) and make a grocery list accordingly. Similarly, I allot a portion of my grocery budget to my snacking needs for the week which helps me to keep a track on my snack intake. Shopping for snacks only once a week along with my grocery helps me to limit the number of snacks I am bringing in my house. It also stops me from going to the store to buy a single snack as more grocery runs can mean multiple snack purchases defacto excessive snacking.

Bring in the substitutes

Breaking habits isn’t easy. The pandemic has resulted in more #WFH and in general more time in our hands which ultimately means more snacking. One of the best ways to deal with this is substituting your unhealthy snack shelves with more mindful options. I’ve started including more mindful choices in my weekly grocery shop, especially fruits. I’ve also started stocking up on some healthier store bought options which are easier to snack on throughout the day without packing in the extra calories. For instance, you can pre-cut fruits and keep them in the fridge, this way you are more likely to reach out for them throughout the day in-between your work calls.

Reward thy effort

Me and my partner loved exploring new restaurants in the pre-pandemic world. However, given the current scenario most of our food exploration is confined to the kitchen. The #stayathome life has given me more time to try out a few recipes and enjoy the simple pleasures of creating my own food. I’ve gotten into the habit of creating some health-ish snacks on weekends which will see me through the week. While there are enough store-bought healthy options which I have listed down for you, I’ve also been indulging in some weekend baking to reward myself with a slice of banana bread or a carrot cake every evening.

Here’s my list of healthy snacks which find a place in the snacking cupboard and hopefully will become your favourite too. Happy Snacking!!

1. Dates(here). This is my favourite brand!

2. Trail Mix (here)

3. Healthy seed mix (here)

4. Hummus (here). Enjoy this with fresh cut veggies or low-calorie veggie crisps (here)

5. Dark chocolate (here).

6. Greek yogurt (here). Top it with your favourite fruits and some nuts and make a low-calorie dessert you can treat yourself to every night.

7. Granola (here). My favourite in-between zoom call snack!

8. Nut butter (here) with everything! Add this to your boring apple/banana slices or some rice cakes (here) for some deliciousness

9. Frozen berries (here) for some summer freshness!

10. Pesto (here) with some whole wheat bread or grilled Haloumi cheese