The "fault" of being greedy

One of the phrases I often hear is (usually said with the eyes cast downwards as if they are in confession):
“but you know, doctor, I have this bad habit of snacking!” or “I know I’m wrong, but I can’t resist snacking!”.

That irresistible need to snack on something sweet such as a piece of chocolate (or five) or eating some slices of cheese when getting back from the office is often seen as an awful mania, something of which to be ashamed, a sort of condemnation of which you can’t save yourself.

The evolution of the greedy human

Well, let's start by saying that the urge to eat sugary foods or foods that cause a rapid insulin response (such as dairy products or even salty snacks) is innate and is the result of evolution that selected the most “greedy” individuals during the Paleolithic era. In the Paleolithic era the day was spent searching for food: those who did not eat enough were destined to die soon or otherwise had no strength (and / or desire) to reproduce. Those who were better at finding foods rich in energy (ripe fruit, sweet roots, honey stolen from raging bees) were stronger, healthier and reproduced more often. In short, we are children of the greediest cavemen! But the availability of food has changed. Sugary foods are now easily within reach in the fridge or on a shelf.

How can you resist? There are two ways.

The importance of having a good breakfast

First of all, it’s very important not to go hungry between the main meals. Breakfast should be a truly satiating meal and include all the key nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fibers, vitamins and minerals). It may seem complicated for those of you who just drink some freshly brewed coffee for breakfast. But gradually getting used to a hearty breakfast in the morning is the first step towards "liberating" yourself from your snack addiction. A good breakfast includes the tripartite plate of the GIFT diet (which will be discussed in the next articles), and lunch and dinner can be easily put together following the same principles.

If you want to know how to have a good breakfast during the holidays please read this article to start your day in the right way.

Rediscover the taste of natural foods

The second trick is to gradually get used to the taste of natural food. We are surrounded by refined foods which are sweetened, flavored, and colored, to the point where we can no longer distinguish what they really taste like. We often hide behind the phrase "but fruit and vegetables no longer taste like they used to". In part this is true, but it is also true that in the past we ate almost exclusively “real” food, so our taste was not constantly "deceived" by industrial products: that's why an apricot or a tomato tasted so good! Try to savor the true and "sincere" flavors of food and if you do this constantly and are patient, you will gradually free yourself from the grip of your gluttony!

Healthy and sincere greetings from your
Tatiana Gaudimonte