Food and Nutrition

7 Tips for Controlling Your Appetite

If you suffer from constant food cravings, there are some steps you can take to remedy the situation. The first step is to make sure you're eating correctly for your metabolic type. This will help a lot. If you're certain that you are eating as you should for your metabolic type and you still feel hungry all the time, consider these tips to curb your appetite:


Looking for a Natural Sweetener?

You may already know how I feel about synthetic sugar substitutes. To put it mildly, I really, really don't like them because they confuse your body and mess up your metabolism. If you find yourself reaching for one of those blue, pink, or yellow packets to sweeten your coffee or tea, I want you to stop and try a natural alternative rather than putting chemicals into your body.


The Right Way to Attack Snacks

I'd be crazy to believe that you will never have a treat. You're human. You're going to eat sugar. You're going to eat chocolate. (Some now argue that chocolate is a health food!) When it comes to snacks, I have two rules: Don't eat them — especially carb snacks — after 9 p.m., and don't eat junk food just because you want a treat. Got it?


Are You Eating a Breakfast That Lasts?

As many of you know, breakfast is an absolute MUST in my book. Eating a hearty breakfast helps reduce levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin, keeping you satisfied throughout the morning and allowing your mind to focus on things other than your next food fix. While you probably don't have time to make a gourmet meal before work each morning, that's no excuse to skip breakfast.


No Time to Cook?

Q: I don't have time to cook — can you suggest some quick and easy breakfast, lunch, and dinner options that don't involve cooking?

A: Here you go!


Quick & Easy Quinoa-Stuffed Peppers

Quinoa may not have reached household name-status quite yet, but it's definitely getting there. And why shouldn't it? Considered a "super grain" (it's actually not a grain at all), this seed is super high in protein, gluten free (a.k.a., easy to digest), and rich in some serious power nutrients, such as iron, magnesium, phosphorus, thiamin, and folate. If you haven't explored the world of quinoa yet, this recipe makes for a quick, easy, and delicious introduction.


The Best Chicken Soup Under 200 Calories!

I'm all for keeping things simple — especially in the kitchen. Some days are just not made for making long, complicated recipes. When you just can't look at another 30-ingredient list in the eye, it's time to try one of my quick and easy alternatives. Enter this delicious and easy chicken and white bean soup recipe. This dish is serious comfort food at its finest — and it's easy to double so you can freeze some for later.


Stave Off Boredom and Stop Overeating

Hey, you. Yeah, YOU! Did you really just spend the last three nights in a row mindlessly munching in front of the television? Well, unfortunately, you're not alone.

Boredom is one of the most common causes of overeating. SO many of us are drawn to the fridge the minute we have a little downtime. But if you eat because you can't find anything else to do, then you're sabotaging yourself.


Craving Mexican? Get Some Tips

When you prepare your own food, you know exactly what is going into the dishes you eat. It's easy to gauge calorie and fat content, as well as control portion size. But all bets are off when you're dining out.

One way to dodge the problem is to avoid eating out all together — but we all know that's simply not possible. The good news? You can make smart choices when you do eat out.


Do You Know The Right Portion Sizes?

When it comes to losing weight, "calories in/calories out" is the name of the game. Burn more than you consume — it's that simple. But how do you know how many calories you consume in the first place?