Every day when 3:00 pm rolls around I start to get hungry. If 3:15 pm rolls around and I haven’t grabbed a snack yet… I get hangry, distracted and miserable. I wish I was exaggerating.
Some common signs of hunger include:
Growling stomach
Tiredness
Shakiness
Dizziness
Headache
Grumpiness
Low energy
If you find yourself feeling any of these things it might mean that you are hungry and need to eat! It is so important to fuel your body throughout the day, especially when you need to stay focused to study (did someone say midterms already?). It can be easy to just reach for a chocolate bar or bag of chips and sometimes, that may be what you need to motivate yourself and make it through your organic chemistry notes (I have been there my friend). Sometimes though our bodies need something a little more sustaining, because eating ONLY chips and chocolate will likely not keep us energized and alert throughout the entire day.
A recommendation I have for you is to stock up on snacks at the beginning of the week (or whenever you usually go grocery shopping). This will ensure that you have food available for when you are hungry, rather than heading to the drive-thru to pay too much for a coffee and a pastry whenever you need a snack.
Snacks that are nutrient dense will naturally help us to feel more alert and focused throughout the day. They can be a great way to make sure you meet your nutrient needs!
A general rule I like to follow when making my afternoon snack is to incorporate both a carb and a protein. The carb will give you the energy you need while the protein will keep you satisfied so you can get back to your task at hand. For example:
Apple + Nut Butter
Crackers + Cheese
Veggies + Hummus
Berries + Greek Yogurt
Peaches + Cottage Cheese
Cereal + Milk
Toast + Fried Egg
Raisin + Nut Mix
It is also important to listen to how hungry your body feels. Snacks are not one size fits all! Sometimes you may be a little hungry so just a banana will suffice. Sometimes you may be hungrier and will need something more filing such a few of these easy egg bites!
And as I mentioned earlier, sometimes you might just need that chocolate bar or bag of gummy bears to keep you going. One of my favourite ways to motivate myself while reading through my textbook is to reward myself with a small chocolate every time I finish a chapter! Eating these types of foods is completely okay! Just remember that it is always good to incorporate a large variety of snacks into your week!
I hope that these tips will help you to beat those mid-afternoon tummy rumbles. I am always looking for snack inspiration so be sure to share your favourite snacks with me by tagging @honeytoastblog on Instagram!
Happy snacking!
- Jess
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