You've got approximately 23 minutes to pick up your lunch, eat it, turn around notes from the last meeting you were in and make it to your next one. When caught in a traffic jam with the clock, you might reach for whatever food is most convenient, instead of what's most nutritionally sound for your body -- and mood. And though we hate to be the ones to break it to you, several foods that are often referred to as 'healthy' are actually quite the contrary, and can leave you feeling even more ravenous (and crankier) than you were before. Before you know it, you're in a constant state of snacking, which is not going to get you any closer to your summer #bodygoals.
So the next time you're reaching for a meal or snack, follow these smart food swaps to keep your hunger (and pants size) in check.
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Swap a Granola Bar for String Cheese or Almonds
They might fit in that perfect little pocket in your gym bag and taste like the best thing in the world when you're starved post-boot camp class, but granola bars don't have the staying power that other snack options offer. "If you look at the label on the back of most snack bars, they're mostly sugar with little fiber or protein," registered dietitian and nutritionist Kaleigh McMordie explains. Instead, she suggests a handful of almonds or one string cheese, both of which have protein and fat to keep you full.
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Swap a Skim Milk Latte for Matcha Green Tea
"A skim milk latte does not have enough calories or fat to satisfy hunger, especially so early in the morning when you need more calories to fuel the day," says registered dietitian Michelle Jaelin, who explains that as a society we have an unfounded -- and unhealthy -- fear of fat. She recommends matcha green tea as an alternative to coffee, because it offers an energy boost without jitteriness. Drink it as a latte (yes, with whole milk) or add it to the following smoothie recipe. "This smoothie gives you a caffeine kick (with the matcha green tea) along with avocado (for heart-healthy monounsaturated fat), Greek yogurt (for protein), spinach (to get your serving of greens and antioxidants) and a banana (for potassium and energy). This high combination of protein, healthy fat and carbohydrates will help to fuel your morning until lunch," she says.
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Swap Juice for a Homemade Greek Yogurt Smoothie
While popular among health and wellness Instagrammers, who can make any meal look like a piece of artwork, bottled juice -- even the cold-pressed, $8 a bottle kind -- might have some vitamins, but many varieties are loaded with sugar and don't have the fiber that whole fruits do. McMordie suggests whipping up a smoothie that has pieces of your go-to fruit, along with Greek yogurt and milk. "By making your own smoothie with fruit and yogurt, you'll get a combination of protein and fiber that will keep you satisfied much longer than a juice will. For even more staying power, add oats or half of an avocado," she adds.
Tip: If smoothies feel like too much of a morning struggle, freeze them in individual cups and defrost in the fridge overnight.
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Swap Chicken Noodle Soup for Lentil Soup
Though the mere idea of this traditional, household soup might bring back memories of sick days from elementary school, the large amounts of sodium outweigh the protein from the chicken, leaving you wanting bowl after bowl. Instead, Jaelin suggests making a curry lentil to fill up your tummy. "The high fiber and protein will help you stay full longer. Fiber takes longer to digest and protein takes longer to convert to blood glucose than carbohydrates, preventing the blood glucose crash that makes you feel hungry again one hour after eating. Combined with curry flavour, this soup is aromatic and satisfying," she says.
