All of us have had food cravings at some point, and these appetites are typically related to texture—for example, we crave something crunchy or creamy.
The way that food feels affects our preference for or distaste of particular foods. For instance, you could be shocked to learn that you enjoy fresh or barely cooked peas even though you may not like mushy canned peas.
Fortunately, a nutritious diet can include a wide variety of flavours and textures. Here are some ideas for filling your appetite with wholesome, multi-textured snacks:
Creamy
Rather than this: Although ice cream may be the first food that springs to mind, there are numerous other creamy treats that can be equally fulfilling.
Try chowing down on this:
One can either eat a ½ avocado just with a spoon or spread fresh avocado on whole grain toast.
Put one tablespoon of creamy peanut butter in the microwave for ten seconds, then pour it over ½ cup of low-fat frozen yoghurt without any additional sugar.
Blend some berries and mix them into a cup of sugar-free, low-fat yoghurt.
Crispy
As an alternative: While their crunchy texture may satisfy your cravings, pretzels and chips may contain excessive amounts of sodium that you shouldn’t be eating.
Try chowing down on this:
a. ¾ cup sugar-free whole grain cereal
b. Crispy unsalted almonds
c. Crisp whole grain breads
d. Popcorn without any flavour; try adding other spices, like cinnamon or your preferred herb or spice. Liquid
Rather than this: While soda or sweet tea may seem energising, the calories they contain can take some time to burn off. Even without added sugar or honey, a medium-sized premium mocha coffee drink with whipped cream may contain 400 calories.
Try this to drink:
Simple iced tea with a squeeze of lemon. Berries or a noncaloric sweetener can be used to sweeten it.
Place sliced fruit in a glass and top with club soda or sparkling water.
For about a fourth of the calories, go for a small latte topped with cinnamon and served with nonfat milk instead of the fancy mocha drink.
Squishy
As an alternative: While kids’ “fruit” snacks and jelly-like candies may seem like squishy fun in your mouth, other selections are higher in nutrients.
Try chowing down on this:
a. Fresh grapes are luscious and sweet; give them a brief freeze-time to give them a unique texture.
b. Use the soft tapioca pearls to make tapioca pudding; just follow the package’s instructions.
Use fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk and only half the sugar or a noncaloric sweetener recommended.
Squishy, stringy joy can be found in room-temperature string cheese and cherry tomatoes.
Crispy
As an alternative: Hot, fresh French fries may offer the crispy quality you desire, but they may also contain unnecessary amounts of additional sodium, saturated fat, and calories.
Try chowing down on this:
a. Slice some tiny red or white potatoes in half, pour them in a little olive oil, top with your preferred herbs, and either bake them in the oven or cook them in an air fryer.
b. Consume a crisp apple, such as a Gala, Fuji, Honey Crisp, or Braeburn.
c. Savour some crisp, fresh vegetable sticks, such celery, carrots, or peppers.