Here is a list of awesome munchies & drinks that won’t leave you feeling like you’ve been left in the “my food has to suck now” zone.

MUNCHIES:

Get a tablespoon and a jar of peanut butter (or almond/cashew butter…whatever you like) and eat a big scoop.  This is like magic…it seriously will take away your hunger pains if you’re jonesin’ for some food and you need to hold off till lunch or dinner.  If you’re still hungry afterwards, drink a big glass of water…that should set you straight, keep your caloric intake down, quench your hunger AND it has some good healthy fat & protein which is also good for your system and fat loss.

Beef Jerky…yup, not the healthiest thing but if you need something salty, this is where it’s at.  If you’re super ambitious consider making your own beef, turkey or fish jerky.

Popcorn.  Yeh it’s totally not the healthiest thing for you, but it doesn’t have a TON of calories.  Try to keep this to a minimum.

General Note:  Whatever you munch on, make it light and don’t gorge.  This is where the previously mentioned trick of doing a few fasts really helps…  It’ll allow you to seriously know the difference between emotional hunger and actual physical hunger.

DRINKS:

A big reminder here:  DO NOT DRINK YOUR CALORIES!  So in general, make sure if you’re drinking calories they have some health benefit to them.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a total food or drink Nazi…I will have the occasional soda if I’m at a ball game, on a hot summer day, etc…but as a general rule I win the eating and drinking game 70-90% of the time.

Ok, now on to some different drinks you might want to consider when you just want something other than coffee, tea or water!

 

A Kick Ass Coconut Chai-ish Drink

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  1. Pour roughly a cup or so of coconut milk (highly recommend Trader Joe’s brand as the others are just too watery) into a sauce pan
  2. Add 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil
  3. Add approximately 2 tablespoons of turmeric (play with the amount you like)
  4. Add a healthy number of shakes of black pepper (this provides a serious increase in your body’s ability to absorb turmeric)…only use 1-2 shakes if you really don’t dig black pepper.
  5. Add a few shakes of cinnamon if you like at this point
  6. Low heat…bring to a very low simmer but not quite a boil…you are aiming to have the turmeric infuse itself into the coconut oil. Once it’s cooked a few minutes, turn off flame and let cool to the point you can put your finger in and not get burned. It’s pretty much ready to drink at this point… but you can add a few final twists:
  7. Add honey to taste. Note: Never add honey to something that’s super-hot when aiming for health benefits…it’s an Ayurvedic thing.
  8. Feel free to add another few shakes of cinnamon on the top for a final touch if you really dig cinnamon
  9. Final, tweak option: I very occasionally 1-2 shake(s) of cayenne pepper

This is a drink that has some pretty rocking health and mood benefits.

I like this one in the evening… and when done right, it can actually give a notable “feel good” vibe. Try it out with some good atmosphere: a way comfortable chair/couch, nice lighting, etc… some really good music and a great book.

Enjoy!

A few quick fun refs: http://authoritynutrition.com/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/ and http://authoritynutrition.com/top-10-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-turmeric/