Crunch!!

[CBMama30]

Hi! My husband and I are on Day 6 of our first W30 and while it's going surprisingly well overall, my husband is sincerely missing crunchy foods (think crackers, chips, etc.). So my question for this group is what are some of your favorite crunchy W30-compliant foods? For example, we toasted some unsweetened coconut flakes this morning to have with our apples and almond butter for breakfast and that was a real treat. What are some other ideas (besides raw veg - we've got that down) to get some crunch in our life? Thanks!

[MeadowLily]

Cbmama30 - you are correct, that was a real treat.   Treating yourself with more treats ...even though those ingredients were compliant.... is a throwback to finding substitutes for all of your former snacks.

 

It's human  nature to find replacements for the favorite snack foods.   At the end of 30 days,  you'll find that you didn't really break the cycles of what I call,  Thrill Eating.   Eating for pure entertainment.

 

Many have been very creative to the point of knocking up against a full-blown SWYPO.   That's a swapped out version of all of the former play foods and snacks.   This is NOT what you want to continue doing.

 

If you're really craving chips, crackers and highly engineered to be craved carbs  - what your husband really needs is  a protein and a good dietary fat.   These are the items that will smother sugar/carb cravings.   You'll  feed the  Snack Monster and Sugar Dragon with nut butters on fruits, dried fruits and nuts and toasted coconut chips.    So lay those down and ditch the snacks.  You'll be happy that you did on Day 7 and Day 30.

 

You can still have your two fruits aday with your meal....at the end or throw the fruit in with your leafy greens and cooked/roasted vegetables. 

[MeadowLily]

Here's a link that will help you. 

 

http://whole9life.com/2010/05/sugar-tantrums/

 

Melissa @ Whole9 says

 

 

April 6, 2011 at 2:09 pm

It may take a week or two… it may take a month or two. Depends on how bad your sugar demons are, and how you treat them during your Whole30. Dallas likes to say you can’t kill the sugar dragon with willpower, you have to STARVE it. So don’t give in to those cravings during your Whole30 by using fruit as a crutch… stick it out and it will get better.

Best of luck to you!

Melissa

 

 

 

Melissa @ Whole9 says

 

August 19, 2010 at 5:34 pm

 You don’t have to throw out all the sweet or savory stuff, but I do think you’re smart to realize you’re giving into the sugar demons with your sunflower seeds and raisins. If you’re craving sugar, don’t give your body sugar! Eat a high fat snack instead, with a little bit of protein, and tough it out. Break those cravings once and for all and you can go back to enjoying the occasional dried fruit and nut snack without worrying that it’s going to send you running for the nearest Krispy Kreme.

Best,

Melissa

 

 

 

 

Dallas @ Whole9 says

 

August 4, 2010 at 8:02 pm

 

If you’re craving carbs (read: SUGAR!),  eat Fat and Protein. Giving yourself sugar is NOT the route to go. But also, adding 1/2 & 1/2 to your coffee won’t make you feel better. We’ve observed in (literally) hundreds of people that “falling off the wagon” with things like pizza and cake only lead to more “falling off”. Get back on the Good Food Train.

[SpinSpin]

I have discovered as I have gone along is that you eat or drink the opposite of what you are craving--crunchy--smooth or soft, like the meat and healthy fat. Sweet--look at sour, like lemon juice in a glass of water, or pickles (if during a meal). If you MUST have crunchy, snappy foods, look at veggies--carrot sticks, bell pepper strips, celery, jicama, and have with a compliant dip--not nut butters. Nuts and nut butters may be an approved fat, but there are better fats to choose from, especially since nuts can be an irritant to your gut. Whip up a ranch dip with homemade mayo, coconut milk to 'thin' it out, onion, garlic, dill.... I have even adapted a recipe that I found on line for southwestern ranch- AWESOME as a dip and to die for on taco salad! Make some guac to dip your crunchy veg in and make it part of a yummy meal. 

 

 

(here is the link to the southwestern ranch-- I use all mayo and coconut milk instead of the dairy milk. When I make it, i make it like my regular mayo and it works FANTASTIC! So good!! I think I may have to make a batch now! 

 

http://www.food.com/recipe/southwest-ranch-salad-dressing-167319

 

I have also made it with a T or so of tomato paste if I don't have tomatoes on hand, or I have been known to toss in a few cherry or grape tomatoes as well!)

[MeadowLily]

I have discovered as I have gone along is that you eat the opposite of what you are craving--crunchy--smooth or soft, like the meat and healthy fat. Sweet--look at sour, like lemon juice in a glass of water, or pickles (if during a meal). If you MUST have crunchy, snappy foods, look at veggies--carrot sticks, bell pepper strips, celery, jicama, and have with a compliant dip--not nut butters. Nuts and nut butters may be an approved fat, but there are better fats to choose from, especially since nuts can be an irritant to your gut. Whip up a ranch dip with homemade mayo, coconut milk to 'thin' it out, onion, garlic, dill.... I have even adapted a recipe that I found on line for southwestern ranch- AWESOME as a dip and to die for on taco salad! Make some guac to dip your crunchy veg in and make it part of a yummy meal. 

Excellent ideas, SpinSpin.   I use Coconut Vinegar or a fancy pomegranate vinegar over my vege/salad greens with tuna/salmon or trout.  You can't smother those monsters with willpower like Dallas says.  You have to bring your strong game face and show them who's boss at the table.   

[GFChris]

This is a great previous thread on this topic:  http://forum.whole9life.com/topic/15301-crunchies/

 

Also, as a side note, is the apple, almond butter and coconut all you had for breakfast?  For best results, design your meals to follow the recommended meal template of protein, veg and fat.

 

[CBMama30]

Thanks for all of the thoughts and ideas. Appreciate it! Some great suggestions that we'll definitely try.

 

I think the OP in the thread that GFChris shared probably worded the intention of my question better than I did. All the foods we've been eating are so "soft" and "cooked" and aside from the raw carrot sticks or pepper slices, we haven't found anything to provide meaningful texture to our meals.

 

When I said "a real treat" in reference to our breakfast this morning, I truly meant that the crunchy texture of the coconut flakes rounded out the meal. Also, this morning was truly an anomaly, as we've been eating a sweet potato and onion hash with chicken sausage and hard boiled eggs for breakfast all week. We had to dine and dash this morning to get our little ones to swimming lessons on time and the foods we chose seemed okay (we did each also have a hard boiled egg). Regardless, we'll reassess our choices in light of the meal template.

 

Thanks again.