When your mind wanders and you indulge in blissful day dream, the one thing your brain passively asks for is food. This is followed by an inability to focus until your craving for something specific is satisfied. And then you pick up your phone and order cheesy fries or a chocolaty cake as a snack, depending on what your tummies are yearning for.

Luckily, there are innumerable healthy options to ensure that your brain is duped into getting what it wants.  Here are 5 smart snacks you can indulge in:

The craving: Something Sweet

The healthiest alternative you can find to cakes dripping with chocolate fudge and such, are fruits. They give you your daily dose of energy (glucose, fructose) while making your brain believe that you have indulged in sugar. Some fruits are also very fibrous, helping with your weight loss goals.

 

The craving: Something Salty

Chips, fries and most of our Indian fried snacks go down packet after packet before you realize you’ve had one too many. All that they do is add the extra bit of flesh where you least want it. A healthy substitute could be popcorn. Not the buttery ones that you can microwave. Simple, salted poppers can give you your salty fix.

 

The craving: Something Cold

Smoothies with veggies or a combination of veggies and fruits are a great way to get through your craving rather than the aerated drinks or canned juices that flood our supermarkets. Try a different mix each day of the week so you don’t get bored!

 

The craving: Something Cheesy

Indulging in slices of pizza that doesn’t seem to end can be a calorie-bomb. A bowl full of our very own paneer can make your longing disappear, because, well, it is called ‘cottage cheese’ for a reason! Add your own mix of pizza spices and have it with gluten-free bread.

 

The craving: Something Caffeine-y!

Is your coffee dependence getting out of hand? Do you feel like you can’t survive without your cuppa at least 5 times a day? Let’s get this straight. You are addicted! For your brain to not miss caffeine, you have to taper it down to less than 2 cups in a day and replace the rest with black/green tea. Filled with anti-oxidants, it gives your brain something new and healthy to get fixated on.

 

Reference –

http://dailyburn.com/life/recipes/healthy-snack-hacks/

http://www.lifehack.org/303079/7-easy-snack-hacks-that-everyone-should-know