Dr. Dave Crosson – Stopping Snack attacks at work
A common conversation I have with my patients is how to stop snacking at work. Quite a few people will tell me, “Doc, I do great at home but at work I have a difficult time staying on track.” The truth of the matter is that stress is a major contributor to food cravings. You can see it happen at a party when people are nervous or anxious they tend to eat or snack more, thus taking up some of that nervous energy.
Grehlin, a hormone that stimulates hunger, drives the neurologic response to want to eat. Sometimes you may even not be hungry but have cravings. Stress at work is going to happen but if we can learn to snack appropriately our bodies will be much better off in the long run. Its actually extremely healthy to have multiple small meals throughout the day. Having a nutritious snack will boost metabolism and hold you over until you have a larger portion size. In this post we want to focus on cutting out the bad snacks and adding some good ones.
First you will want to stop snacking on ‘empty’ calories. That means all the sugary, processed foods like chips, candy, crackers etc. Surround yourself with foods that are high in fiber and nutrients which will help you feel full longer, thus reducing cravings. We tend to recommend, walnuts, raisins, almonds, apples, berries, cauliflower, sliced green/red peppers or trail mix. Most fruits, vegetables and raw unsalted nuts will work.
Second, something we do during our “30 Day weight loss challenge,” is make sure you are eating breakfast 20-30 minutes after waking up. This will not only help you fight the urge to snack but it will also boost your metabolism as well. A tall glass of water plus a small meal of carbs, protein and good fats will get you off on the right foot. We always recommend a glass of water because you have just slept for 6+ hours without any hydration, water as we know is extremely important.
Start with these two things and stay tuned for two more ways to stop the snack attacks. Have a great day at work!
