The foods that actually make you HUNGRIER
- Nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert reveals the 10 foods making us hungrier
- Crisps, alcohol and pastries are some of the worst culprits
- But ‘healthy’ raw chocolate and low-sugar bars are ‘just as bad’
Everyone expects to feel fuller after eating, but a nutritionist has revealed how some of our favourite foods could actually be making us hungrier.
And some of our go-to ‘healthy’ snacks that we reach for in between meal times are just as bad for satiating our hunger as crisps and alcohol, it’s claimed.
Registered nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert, whose client list includes Chelsea footballer Cesc Fabregas, revealed to FEMAIL the 10 worst foods we’re all eating that leave us with rumbling stomachs soon afterwards.
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Acai bowls (pictured) and fruit juices will leave you feeling hungry within an hour of eating them, says nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert
ACAI BOWLS AND FRUIT JUICES
Snacking on liquid-based items which contain very little fibre and protein is not a good idea and often leaves you feeling hungry within an hour.
Despite the health benefits of superfoods and juices, the insulin spike results in hunger soon afterwards.
Studies also suggest chewing food leaves us more satisfied, meaning there’s less chance of overeating at the next meal.
RHIANNON’S TIP: Add some protein powder to your acai bowl or opt for a smoothie with fibre over a juice. Embrace the ‘bits’ and chunks in your food. I like Pure Blend Protein Powder.
LOW-SUGAR AND LOW-CARB BARS
These bars are labelled as a healthy, low-sugar, low-carb treat, and many people on Instagram seem to be addicted to microwaving them and enjoying them as if they’re a warm brownie.
But many contain sucralose, an artificial sweetener made from sugar, in a multi-step chemical process where three hydrogen-oxygen groups are replaced with chlorine atoms.
Research suggests sucralose raises blood sugar levels, making us hungry when they crash, which also contributes to weight gain.
RHIANNON’S TIP: Go for a protein bar that contains natural sweeteners such as stevia or brown rice syrup. I like Pulsin Bars.
CRISPS
Rhiannon says avoid snacking on crisps (pictured) as salt is known to trigger hunger in high amounts
These contain zero nutritional value and are packed with chemicals and lots of salt.
Salt is known in high amounts to trigger hunger signals.
RHIANNON’S TIP: Try Giving Tree Crisps, which are one of your five a day, as they are made from freeze-dried fruit and vegetables, which preserves nutrition. They’re also low in salt, sugar and all natural.
WASABI PEAS
What on earth could be wrong with some peas and spice I hear you say?
Well, a lot actually. They are coated in sugar, salt and chemicals, all of which trigger hunger signals in the brain.
Sugar has no ‘off switch,’ so it will always leave you wanting more.
RHIANNON’S TIP: Try Food Doctor Roasted Bean Mix, which is high in fibre – which in turn helps release hormones telling us we are full. It’s also low in sugar and rich in protein to keep you full.
CONVENIENCE SALADS
Rhiannon says many salads will leave you craving more food as they don’t contain much protein or fibre
While there are lots of great, well-balanced salads out there, there are also lots of salads that will not fill you up and leave you craving more food.
This is often owing to the lack of protein, fibre and high amounts of sugar in the dressings provided.
The dressing also adds calories so you might as well make your own at home.
RHIANNON’S TIP: Ditch the dressing and add olive oil or balsamic, and always opt for a salad with a lot of protein and vegetables over leaves.
High-protein yogurt eaten in the afternoon may also help you eat approximately 100 fewer calories at dinner, compared to the other two options, so use yoghurt as a side over dressing.
RAW, VEGAN AND ‘HEALTHY’ CHOCOLATE
Rhiannon (pictured) advises against snacking on ‘raw’ chocolate won’t necessarily keep hunger at bay
The health status of chocolate is not determined by the type of chocolate and just because it says raw, dairy free or low-sugar does not mean it’s going to keep hunger at bay.
Eating a bar low in cocoa before a meal will only trigger you to need more food.
Studies show opting for dark chocolate with a high cocoa percentage increases feeling of fullness owed to the stearic acid component which also helps slow digestion.
RHIANNON’S TIP: Opt for a bar of any variety 75 per cent or more for a filling and rewarding treat.
The bitterness of the darker chocolate is thought to help decrease appetite and diminish cravings for sweets.
GRANOLA BARS
The sugar content in granola bars (pictured) will make you hungry soon after eating them, says Rhiannon
The sugar content alone, regardless of whether it’s honey, maple syrup or pure sucrose, is enough to send your hunger into overdrive.
Glucose from carbohydrate is also a form of sugar and dried fruit to top it all off is a fast release of fructose sugars.
Avoid these ‘healthy’ snack bars and go for something balanced with no extra sugars and added protein
RHIANNON’S TIP: If you want a flapjack, then make your own at home.
I have a good recipe which is high in healthy fats, fibre and protein (in fact, I make these regularly for my client, the Chelsea footballer Cesc Fabregas).
Or instead, opt for a Trek bar as they have added protein to keep you full.
REFINED PASTRIES
Rhiannon advises people to avoid reaching for a croissant (pictured) as the refined carbohydrates they contain release quickly into the bloodstream, making you feel hungrier
Refined carbohydrates, which are in Danish pastries and croissants, are released quickly into the blood stream whereas wholegrain are released slowly which keep you full.
RHIANNON’S TIP: If you MUST have that croissant have it with some nut butter to slow the release of glucose much more effectively than jam or chocolate.
Try and get some oat cakes with hummus, which are just as cost effective and they last longer in your handbag.
SANDWICHES
They have long been a staple of UK lunches but the reality is that they are often a very un-balanced meal that leaves you hungry.
White breads have little nutritional value and contain added sugar and salt.
Combined with a barely healthy filling such as tuna, cheese or chicken and a small bit of salad, there isn’t enough quality nutrition in this meal, leaving you hungry and still needing more.
RHIANNON’S TIP: Make your own with wholegrain, or buy an open sandwich or wholegrain sandwich.
Check the fillings, too – how much chicken is actually in your sandwich?
You may be better off buying a pack of chicken and adding a slice of bread back at home or work.
I tend to ditch carbs as a snack and get lots of lean protein to keep me full mid-afternoon, but lots of places are now doing egg wraps or wholegrain wraps.
And salmon and omega-3 also keeps you fuller, so opt for fish when possible.
ALCOHOL
Rhiannon says alcohol makes us want to eat more, so is best avoided if we are trying to watch what we eat
As you may have noticed, alcohol affects our brains to make us want to eat more, so be careful when you choose to have your drink.
RHIANNON’S TIP: Opt for red wine, which is lower in alcohol sugars and rich in flavonoids. Red wine has been linked to heart health so there’s a plus there too.
Ditch the beer and sugary cocktails, which also stimulate appetite and contribute to belly fat.
THE LAST WORD FROM RHIANNON
In an ideal world you want to be eating ‘real foods’, items that don’t contain chemicals, added sugar, salt or preservatives.
Our bodies need food for fuel and if we avoid processed food we are more likely to get more out of our food and forgo hunger for good.
I tell clients to think of each time to eat as an opportunity to fuel.
I aim for balanced meals, and protein at every meal is essential to keep you going, combined with a variety of good fats (nuts, seeds and oil), small portions of complex carbs and a variety of colour from fruit and vegetables.
