What do we mean by eating a light dinner? Dinner should be the smallest meal of the day. Front loading the day’s food gives our bodies the chance to use up all of that good energy during the day, leaving us feeling more satisfied and less hungry at dinner time. If you do not feel hungry at all, dinner may even be a very light snack such as fruit or tea.
Why stop eating 3 hours before bed? During the day, we are active and moving and able to burn off all of the calories that we consume. In the evening, our digestion slows down and lighter foods are easier for our bodies to process. Whatever you don’t use up within 2-3 hours of eating will be stored as fat. Let’s face it, many of us don’t go out and play a vigorous game of tennis after dinner, we usually sit on the couch and relax.
Many of you are already experiencing less hunger at night as a result of eating larger, more satisfying breakfasts and lunches with plenty of protein and good fats. Eating a large dinner is a big part of American culture and can be a tough habit to break, so pay close attention to what your body is really telling you. Are you really hungry, or eating out of habit?
Here are 4 easy ways to eat a light dinner:
- Skip the grains. Only eat proteins, vegetables and fruits for dinner. You can also replace grains with starchy vegetables – beets, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash.
- Moderate your protein portion size. Look at how much protein you are consuming during your lunch meal, and divide it by half for dinner.
- Eat slowly. Take the time to taste, chew and enjoy your food. Spend dinner catching up with your family or friends, and focus on the conversation instead of the food.
Add nuts and seeds. Nuts and seeds add nutrient density without too much heaviness. - After dinner: If you are still feeling hungry after dinner, you can try drinking some tea as a crutch until bedtime. Experiment with different foods and portion sizes for dinner. Everyone’s body is different, listen to what your body is telling you it needs.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it:
Shanti Pappas, Certified Holistic Health Coach and Functional Medicine Nutritionist at HappyBellyHealth.com, helps busy professionals get rid of digestive discomfort and stubborn weight. Check out our 50+, 5 star reviews: http://www.yelp.com/biz/happy-belly-health-san-francisco
