Is this normal when cutting down on snacking?

AngeleyesJo

Hi I am a terrible snacker so have been attempting to cut down to maybe one in the morning and afternoon, I'm finding myself hungry, is it my body expecting the food? Will it get easier?

SuzySunshine99

Can you just replace your old (and I assume high-calorie) snacks with ones that are within your calorie goal? Look for lower calorie alternates, or, if you really want to save the calories, some tea or coffee can help with cravings.

cwolfman13

In my experience, snacking is often not so much about hunger, but rather a habit that one engages in regardless of actual hunger.

What are your meals like and are you getting enough calories overall? I think it's pretty normal to be hungry come meal time. If you are eating small meals and insufficient meals and not snacking, that could cause in between meal hunger too.

JacquiH73

I can't live on three meals a day. I have smaller meals and snack in between often on high fiber low calorie foods like apples, carrots with hummus, or popcorn for example. I balance 5 meals a day in essence and just weigh my snacks and meals to make sure I'm staying within my calorie goals.

I also try to avoid drinking my calories (unless its a smoothie which I count as a meal). That way I have more room for foods throughout the day. HTH.

AngeleyesJo

cwolfman13 wrote: »

In my experience, snacking is often not so much about hunger, but rather a habit that one engages in regardless of actual hunger.

What are your meals like and are you getting enough calories overall? I think it's pretty normal to be hungry come meal time. If you are eating small meals and insufficient meals and not snacking, that could cause in between meal hunger too.

I'm trying to make my portions a bit smaller on meals, could it be not enough?

serindipte

You appear to be going extremely low on your fat macro. We've had it pounded into our head that "fat is bad", but that isn't true. Try adding more good fats into your meals to increase your satiety. I don't do "low carb", but I do find that when I go high carb, I am hungry more often. Protein and fats keep you full longer and, in the end, you eat fewer calories.

AngeleyesJo

I've tried adding peanut butter to my porridge for instance and a few nuts for fats should there be something else?

pinuplove

AngeleyesJo wrote: »

I've tried adding peanut butter to my porridge for instance and a few nuts for fats should there be something else?

Avocados! Full fat yogurt and cheeses. Olive oil.

nowine4me

JacquiH73 wrote: »

I can't live on three meals a day. I have smaller meals and snack in between often on high fiber low calorie foods like apples, carrots with hummus, or popcorn for example. I balance 5 meals a day in essence and just weigh my snacks and meals to make sure I'm staying within my calorie goals.

I also try to avoid drinking my calories (unless its a smoothie which I count as a meal). That way I have more room for foods throughout the day. HTH.

Ditto. I like to have some protein and fiber with each snack -- cottage cheese + apple, Babybel + Pear, Greek yogurt + almonds or even popcorn and a small square of chocolate.

AngeleyesJo

What sort of portion size would you look for in porridge etc

AnnPT77

While some people find protein more satiating, and others find fats filling, there are also some who do best when getting some high-volume low calorie foods, like fiber-containing veggies. Some people even require carbs to feel full (complex ones, often), but others find that carbs make them crave even more carbs!

It's good to experiment with what makes you feel most full and satisfied the longest, sticking within a healthy range of course. It could even be a combination of strategies. Experiment with some new approach for a couple of days, and stick with it if it's an improvement. If not, try something else. It should be possible to find what works best for you.

Personally, I found I needed a solid breakfast with plenty of protein, then plenty of protein thoughout the day, plus some high-volume foods at at least one meal. For some reason, the bigger breakfast reduced my snack cravings in the evening. Your exact specifics will differ, but you can figure it out by experimenting.

If the problem is more habit, that you're used to grazing, consider substituting a habit of something like herb tea or other zero-calorie beverage, or a short walk (or stretching or other movement/activity), or a new hobby. Sometimes doing something else for just a few minutes will let a craving pass.

Good luck - you can do this!