3 ways to curb your cravings after the holidays
Nourished's Alyssa Bauman offers suggestions on how to cut back on sugar and fat one smart smoothie at a time
It's the time of year when we just can't allow ourselves to eat all those delightful chocolate-covered treats that taunted us all through the holiday season..
Unfortunately, we have to go back to work or school and enjoy regular meals. But how do you chase away those cravings for sugar and fat?
Nutritionist and health consultant Alyssa Bauman helps her clients through these tough times. She showed host Gloria Macarenko three ways to kick out those cravings in her conversation on CBC's Our Vancouver.
1. Hydrate — with some kick
Bauman says it all starts with the sauce of life: water.
"Most of us don't realise how important staying hydrated is," she said.
"Most of the times when we get these cravings for sugars and salts, it's because our body is lacking something — and most of the time, it's water."
She says to reach for some water first to calm those cravings.
Try putting some lemons or ginger in your water to get an added boost of flavour that can help ease those cravings, and provide you with some anti-oxidants.
2. Eat whole foods and a lot more root veggies
Bauman says when sugar cravings strike even though you're hydrated and well rested, some sweet root vegetables can satisfy them.
Try baking some sweet potatoes, or putting beets in a salad.
"These are loaded in anti-oxidants, and beets are a great source of iron."
3. Drink smoothies with craving fighting ingredients
Alyssa Bauman says smoothies are one of the most effective tools to battle out the cravings, specifically smoothies containing lots of green and fibrous vegetables.
But she provided CBC with her own take on a chocolate smoothie.
Deceptively healthy smoothie
Bauman: This deceptively healthy smoothie is loaded in iron, magnesium, potassium, protein, omega-3s, fiber, [and] calcium — need I say more. I am addicted to them lately as my 3:00 p.m. pick me up. But I bet it would be an even more amazing quick breakfast treat. Coconut oil keeps me satiated for hours until dinner. It is so yummy, it lasts three minutes in my glass. No joke. And the kids love it too.
Ingredients
- 1 frozen banana
- 3 tablespoons cacao powder
- 1 teaspoon maca powder (this superfood powder is powerful with an espresso-like qualities. It's a great energy boost, but is not recommended for kids)
- 3 dates, soaked
- 1 tablespoons hemp seeds
- 1 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 cup organic unsweetened almond milk
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- A dash of cinnamon
- 1/3 cup kale (you wont even taste it, trust me)
Blend ingredients up, and enjoy.
Click here to watch Alyssa Bauman's interview on CBC's Our Vancouver