It’s Time for lunch! If you’re on a diet and overwhelmed, here are 8 food traps to avoid, as they sabotage your diet and can even give you with a few extra pounds.
MISTAKE 1: YOU EAT WHILE WALKING
Are you also among those who quickly get a snack from the cafeteria and eat on the way to the office? Then, unfortunately, we have bad news for you: according to a study, you’re eating 30% more calories than you would sitting down. Take your time with your food, it does not have to be an hour. We are all stressed. But 15 minutes is sufficient for a healthy lunch. Chew your food so you can digest it in a healthy way.
MISTAKE 2: YOU PUT OFF LUNCH
Even if your stomach is not growling, you should have lunch between noon and 2PM. Anyone who waits longer risks being attacked by a sudden torture of hunger, and this usually ends with jamming your mouth full of fast food. Furthermore, your body needs new nutrients in the form of food every four hours. Otherwise, your metabolism slows down and that means that it burns fewer calories.
MISTAKE 3: YOU EAT TOO MUCH SALAD
“What is this, a weight loss error?” Don’t get me wrong: salad is healthy, has few calories, no fat and is therefore perfect for losing weight. The green leaves and raw vegetables in it are great. A large weight loss trap, however, lurks in the salad buffet between calorie-rich dressings and toppings such as croutons or cheese.
Too much of the extras turns their really healthy salad into a small calorie bomb. So, in the future, more salad (yes), with more vegetables and fewer toppings. “I will never be satisfied.” Do not panic, just combine your salad with a roll or a soup. When it comes to the dressing, less is more. Vinegar, the juice of a lemon, oil, salt and pepper are already sufficient and can taste better than fatty toppings.
MISTAKE 4: YOU GO OUT TO EAT EVERY DAY
Having lunch with colleagues is fun, that much is clear. Yet it’s hard to lose weight during this time. On most menus, there are a lot of dishes with a lot of calories hidden. Plus, the portions are usually very generous. In addition, it is rather costly to go out to eat all the time, so it’s healthier and cheaper to cook yourself.
Simply cook your lunch the night before. Sounds dull? It’s easy to prepare your food with ‘
MISTAKE 5: YOU HAVE DIET SOFT DRINKS WHILE YOU EAT
A cold refreshment is a good lunch for most. “It’s not so bad if it’s light.” Unfortunately, that is false. The sugar is replaced with low-calorie sweeteners and since you only fake delivering calories to your body with the sweet taste, the belly quickly starts to growl again. It waits longingly for the promised energy. A better alternative is a large glass of water with a little lemon.
MISTAKE 6: YOU EAT IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER
A popular slimming sin at lunch. You’re paying attention to a screen, while shoving something mechanically into your mouth. The food becomes a side issue and that is the danger. Your attention is somewhere else, so you do not realize when you are really full. In the worst case, you continue to eat until the plate is empty. You then pay the tax of a bloated and full belly that makes work in the afternoon much more difficult. Yes, this also applies to the TV.
MISTAKE 7: YOU EAT PACKAGED SNACKS
At first glance, the packaged salad or sandwich look like a healthy meal. But appearances can be deceptive with the dressing and tops that contain calories that are unnecessary. Plus, the dishes are not all that tasty. If you cook for yourself, you know what’s inside and it will taste better. You do not have to do it every day, but 1 to 2 times a week will do just fine.
MISTAKE 8: YOU SKIP LUNCH COMPLETELY
If you skip lunch completely, you will not only have to battle an annoying feeling of hunger, but also lack of energy. All for just 500 calories at lunch? Your body needs regular nutrients to maintain all its functions. If it is not supplied with nutrients, your metabolism will slow down and you will burn fewer calories and so losing weight becomes counterproductive. Hunger is not only unpleasant, but ends with gaining more than the 500 calories you saved earlier when you have dinner.
You won’t be hungry in the future if you consume the following: healthy carbohydrates, dietary fiber and plenty of protein. Eat between noon and 2pm, because these nutrients are long-lasting and prevent you from getting hungry without overloading your calorie count.
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