3 tips from a nutritionist to stop snacking

Everyone has already indulged in a piece of chocolate or a packet of chips between meals. And so far, so good. But when this snacking becomes automatic and too regular, it can wreak havoc on our nutritional balance. To avoid this, Claire Trommenschlager, nutritionist and author of the book Happy dieting! provides three ways to explore, question, and modify one’s own eating behaviors. He sums them up in a video posted on his Instagram account Claire.happydiet: February 14.

Eat well

“Are you eating enough?” Here is the first question you should ask yourself according to the expert. Depriving yourself too much at different meals of the day and then compensating with a snack is useless and counterproductive if you want to eat a healthy diet, she warns. A nutritious and filling plate consists of “vegetables, protein, starchy foods,” she recalls. And this at every meal. The professional also reminds that it does not make sense to exclude starchy foods in the evening.

Beware of small snacks

Second track, “Making time to eat without feeling guilty?” Here, the nutritionist invites us to fully embrace our desires instead of snacking while standing in front of the refrigerator. “Prepare yourself a tray with a hot drink, a nutritious item such as cottage cheese, squire and/or fruit, then add your indulgence food (cake, chocolate, etc.). And you sit there and enjoy it,” advises the specialist. Enjoying every bite, not pre-limiting, and having fun are key elements to avoid any disappointment. “You eat mindfully, and when the pleasure wears off, you stop,” she says. If we do this every night, our snacking cravings should decrease.

Find out what we’re missing

Finally, the nutritionist informs that snacking is often due to the need to fill a gap. Fatigue, boredom, stress, lack of attention… Therefore, it is important to identify what we are trying to complete and try to make it happen. Claire Trommenschlager recommends, for example, resting if you’re tired, or prioritizing relaxing activities like sports if you’re stressed. “Whatever your feelings, food is not really the answer,” she concludes.