Lead us not in to temptation

Did you know that you are approximately 7 times more likely to eat “treat” food if it’s sitting in front of you, then if you had to go out and buy it?

It’s natural to be tempted by the lure of savoury nibbles and sweat treats, but more and more of us are finding it difficult to restrain ourselves and keep these types of foods to just “every-now-and-then”.  “Junk” food is no longer a once-a-week treat, but a regular on the menu in many households. And we often stock up on biscuits, chips, chocolates, lollies and ice cream so that our cupboards have a steady supply.

However, here-in lies the problem! By having these “treats” so readily available, we’re eating them so much more frequently! Their mere presence is causing us to de-rail us from our best intentions!

The key here is to remove the temptation in the first place. If we open the fridge or the pantry, and there’s nothing too high in sugar or salt or fat there, then we can’t undo all our good work as quickly! And on the flip side, if we stock the kitchen with lots of delicious fresh fruits and veggies, and healthy snacks (think nuts, wholegrain crackers, low-fat yoghurt and cheese), we’re more likely to satisfy our cravings with foods that are going to keep our tummies happy, as well as our waist lines, our BGLs and the scales!

And have a think about those “treat” foods… How do you feel if you “splurge” at lunchtime and get the creamy pasta? You’re likely to spend the rest of your afternoon dreaming of your bed as everything slows down to help you digest the heavy meal. What about when you O.D. on pizza… That horrible greasy feeling in your mouth and on your hands afterwards is a sure sign that your insides are going to be dealing with that greasy mess for a while! Soft drinks can leave you burping the day away!

So a “treat” isn’t really a “treat” if it’s going to make you feel worse than when you started! So why not make it easy for yourself, and use a couple of these tips to avoid temptation:

  1. PLAN your meals and groceries for the week and write a list. If it’s not on the list, then it’s not allowed in the trolley!
  2. If you’re looking to kill time on a quiet weekend, why not COOK UP a big batch of soup or casserole that’s packed full of veggies and freeze it in individual portions. This way, you’re never forced to dial 1300 PIZZA HUT when you don’t have the energy left to cook dinner.
  3. STOCK your fridge with fresh fruit and veggies each week, and keep things like frozen berries in the freezer, so you’ll always have a healthy, tasty snack on hand!

We often hear from clients that the reason they have these “treat” foods at home is because the kids or the grandkids won’t eat anything else. Having white bread, Froot Loops and chocolate milk for when the kids or grandkids come over might be the best way to keep peace, but it’s not good for their long-term health either.

We often hear how rates of overweight and obesity are on the rise in Australia and around the world, but did you know that the same thing is happening in children? In 1995, 21% of boys and 23% of girls (aged 2 – 17) were overweight or obese, and this number has only continued to rise since. We know that it’s not always easy to hold your ground with kids and teenagers, but help them to understand that a treat isn’t really a treat if it’s readily available. And though it might taste like a treat at the time, there will be an impact on their health not just later in life, but immediately.

So this isn't to say you can’t ever have a bikkie or chips again, just don’t have them at home – save them for special occasions, or perhaps when you’re at a friend’s house. The same goes for the kids too! Just reduce the frequency of these “treats”, and your BGLs and your waistline (among many other things) will be much happier!