Coronavirus lockdown has forced us to work in quarantine at homes meaning, we are raiding our refrigerators more often than always. But how to ensure you binge on healthy snacks whilst watching your weight besides incorporating nutritious meals.
Experts warn that the worst foods to snack on are those that provide empty calories, contain saturated fats and excess carbohydrates. Foods that are micronutrient-poor and very low in essential vitamins and minerals – usually sugary and processed fatty foods like cakes, biscuits, crisps, milk chocolate, ice cream, and pastries should be consumed in minimal portions is not avoided completely.
Foods with a high-water content, specially fruits such as grapes, apples, kiwi, melons; low-salt broth soup; homemade smoothies; corn cobs; mixed salad bowls should be consumed especially for breakfast for they are filling even as they are light.
Your diet should also contain fibre rich foods which are not only physically filling but also help produce hunger-suppressing short-chain fatty acids in the gut. Thus, an increase intake of raw vegetable crudités, carrots, cucumber slices with hummus, or even edamame and olives can nourish both your skin as well as repress your binging habits. Other protein-rich foods to curb our desire to crunch and munch through lockdown include boiled eggs, fat-free yogurt, fat-free cottage cheese; tofu dices, bean salads, hemp seeds, wholegrain rice cakes; protein bars, wholewheat cookies, dairy-free coconut yogurt et al.
Focus more on home-cooked meals as opposed to ready-to-eat snack bars from Sainsburys and keep replenishing yourself with water. Staying hydrated is important for your skin, oxygen circulation and body weight.
