Snacking

[a.seger96]

I absolutely love the Whole 30. I love cooking and the idea of actually eating whole foods. I already ate fairly healthy before going on it, so it hasn't been that hard for me so far and I've barely had any cravings. The problem I'm faced with however is snacking. I am SUCH a mindless snacker and can accidentally eat loads of blueberries or other whole 30 approved foods but I feel like that still isn't healthy. I went on the Whole 30, trying to break snacking but it hasn't worked and I snack on way more food than I realize at the time. I've read about this and they say to make sure you're eating large meals. I'm completely satisfied after each meal, my issue is my mind thinks about whatever food is available for snacking. 

Does anyone else experience this? If so, what helps you keep your mind off of snacks? I have tried water, gum, etc. 

[MeadowLily]

Sugarless gum messes with the digestive system.  That could be keeping your cravings in a constant uproar.

 

http://forum.whole9life.com/topic/2336-sugar-free-gum/

[ShannonM816]

If there are particular foods you know you eat mindlessly, maybe you need to not keep those foods around for a while, until you break this habit. It sounds like blueberries may be something you overeat, so if you truly can't stop yourself snacking on them, don't keep them in the house.

I'd also recommend that you really concentrate on only eating when you can sit and focus on the food. When you eat, make that the only thing you're doing. Don't watch TV, read, play a game on your phone, or check your email. Eat, enjoy your food, if you're eating with other people, enjoy the conversation. Even at non mealtimes, if you're hungry and going to eat something, plate your food and sit down at the table and eat without distractions.

If you're not actually hungry, don't eat. Don't even walk into the kitchen and look around unless you've already checked in with yourself and determined that you are actually hungry -- generally, we recommend asking yourself if you would eat something fairly bland like plain fish and broccoli.

When you're not hungry but find yourself thinking about food, do something to distract yourself. Go for a walk, clean something, read a book, work on a hobby or craft, call a friend, take a bath, do your nails -- do something that keeps your mind and ideally also your hands busy for a while until you're not thinking about food anymore.

[ladyshanny]

Also of note although I am somewhat late to this, is that gum is not Whole30 compliant in any form, sugarless or not.

[Hannlib]

I don't snack on whole 30. End of. I make it a rule, just like not eating dairy or grains and so on. I eat template sized meals that see me 4-5 hours and if I'm hungry earlier, I eat my next meal. Once I put down my knife and fork that's it till next time - and after dinner that's it till morning. So before I clear my plate I ask myself, am I done? Will this see me though? If not I take a little more dinner (i always have leftovers for the next day). No snacks. Done.