Beat the 4 o'clock munchies
29 April 2013
The 4 o’clock munchies… I’m sure you know exactly what I mean. It goes something like this: you start the day with fantastic intentions and breakfast is a paragon of good health. The day revs up and life suddenly goes into the fast lane with a whirlwind of activity revolving around family life and work. The day whizzes by and you suddenly realise that it is 4 o’clock and YOU ARE STARVING because you’ve forgotten to eat anything much since breakfast. Moreover, supper isn’t going to be for another few hours because your partner’s still at work. Then, in a flash, you have dived into the kitchen cupboards and dug out a pot of Nutella, unearthed a packet of biscuits and discovered a bag of salted peanuts left over from your last dinner party. Within minutes they’ve all been safely dispatched, you don’t feel hungry any more but you are also cursing yourself for having – once again – fallen into the 4 o’clock munchies trap. Familiar scenario? Read on for 6 tried and tested foody solutions:
1. If you are anything like me, then the concept of actually taking time out at lunch for a sit down meal is out of the question – I can’t afford to take time out of a working day which is squeezed into school hours. If you are still in the baby and toddler phase, then mealtimes are entirely focused on feeding your offspring, which is not conducive to a leisurely meal for yourself. So, what to do? Become a grazer! Nibbling on the right sort of food throughout the day can be a very effective way of keeping your blood sugar levels on an even keel so that when 4 o’clock comes round you don’t feel so hungry that you’d not only consume a whole box of chocolates but also the pretty box they are in! This, of course, begs the question of what exactly you should graze on…
2. I am all for quick fixes which are manageable. Anything too complicated, time-consuming or fiddly makes me feel overwhelmed and so I don’t bother… only to be overcome by another bout of 4 o’clock munchies! So one thing I’d suggest always having in your handbag or Cath Kidston changing bag, is a little pack of Nairn’s oatcakes. You’ll find that the big box is divided up into handy packs of 5 or 6 oatcakes which you can pop into your bag and eat whilst you are out and about. There are different flavours – plain, herbs, cheese, stem ginger – and they’re all yummy, giving you sustained, slow-release energy.
3. I know I’ve mentioned Graze Box before but they really are gorgeous and guilt-free, not to mention the perfect size for taking with you when you’re out and about. Try a free box of 4 deliciously healthy treats at www.graze.com using my free voucher code L2Q6M67D.
4. Keep a couple of Food Doctor Wholesome Pots in your cupboard. They have no nasties in them and they are ready in minutes as you just add boiling water – ideal for combatting a sudden pang of hunger. They’re also very portable!
5. If, despite regular healthy grazing throughout the day, you still find yourself ready to pounce on anything that’s high in all the wrong sorts of fats and sugars at 4 o’clock (the stress of feeding the kids is enough to make most of us crave a calorie-laden cupcake), then I would suggest keeping in stock various handy-but-not-unhealthy readymade meals which can be heated up in minutes and will keep you going until you sit down for a proper evening meal with your partner. Here are my favourites: fresh vegetable soups, The City Kitchen Skinny Prawn and Orzo Pasta (love this one!), and some of the Innocent Veg Pots (choose ones with the lowest sugar content).
6. Last but not least, boiled eggs are the perfect food for busy mums – they are quick to prepare, incredibly nutritious, and with their good protein content they keep you feeling full for longer. When I give the boys boiled eggs for breakfast I always hard boil and extra 2 for me to have during the day. Here’s the one I’m just about to graze on – I love the Cotswold Legbar eggs with their pale blue shells. So beautiful.
See how you get on, and let me know whether you manage to beat the dreaded 4 o’clock munchies!