If you thought munching on a whole bowl of pasta for lunch would keep you full until dinner time think again! Some foods can actually make you hungry - yes, hungry! We've rounded up some foods that are making you hungry...
If you thought munching on a whole bowl of pasta for lunch would keep you full until dinner time, think again! Some foods can actually make you hungry - yes, eating can make you hungry! We've rounded up some of the top foods that are probably making you hungry.
If you find yourself snacking throughout the day and just have idea why - you might actual not be eating the right things. Don't worry though, we're here to name and shame the suspects and tell you exactly what you can do to stop them from having this effect.
Take a look through our gallery of foods that are making you hungry - we bet you'll be surprised by a few...
First on the list is cereal. Although it's one of the easiest things to rustle up for breakfast, having this option at the start of your day may not be as filling as you might think.
Why it's making you hungry: Some cereals are quite high in carbs and sugar, which will give you a quick burst of energy and leave you feeling low soon afterwards - which is when the hinger cravings will start.
Tip: Swap your standard sugary cereal for wholegrain muesli instead or make your own granola - plenty of nuts, dried fruits and oats will keep you full until lunch time.
Mustard
On top of a hot dog or on the side of your plate ready for dipping, mustard is a popular condiment. It can, however, leave you feeling unsatisfied and hungry too.
Why it's making you hungry: Mustard increases the flow of salvia and digestive juices therefore stimulating our appetite and making our bodies ready to eat. This is great if you're not feeling well and need to increase your appetite to get better, but if you're on a diet or want to stop snacking then this yellow substance in your sandwich can leave you craving more.
Tip: Try swapping for other condiments instead like ketchup or horseradish and see if you notice a difference.
Pastry
Whether you're a pastry lover in the mornings or love a sweet treat in the afternoon with a cuppa, pastry really isn't filling as filling as you think it is and will leave you feeling very unsatisfied.
Why it's making you hungry: Pastry is packed full of carbohydrates which the body finds hard to digest. It has has a high sugar and fat content which will make your energy levels crash a few hours later.
Tip: Make your own pastry and use whole grain flour for slow release energy - it's simple and you have control over the ingredients that are used in the mix.
Chocolate
There's no harm having a sweet treat every now and then but if you're trying to cut down on your goodies and start eating healthy, chocolate might have to be first on the list to go as it increases your appetite.
Why it's making you hungry: The high sugar levels in chocolate will give you a quick energy boost but a few hours later you will find yourself feeling low - and often hungry again. The high fat content can play havock with your metabolism and can leave you unsatisfied and craving another treat.
Tip: If you've got a serious sweet tooth or you're just finding it hard to give up altogether then swap your milk or white chocolate for dark instead. It's much better for you than the rest or half your chocolate intake and limit yourself to one sweet treat a week - it's that simple.
Biscuits
Biscuits are a great way to beat your cravings for something sweet, especially when they're baked with dried fruits or nuts. They don't however keep you very full - you could end up eating a whole packet of biscuits in one go if you're not careful.
Why it's making you hungry: Biscuits are full of carbs and sugars which are easily digested to give you an instant sugar high. This doesn't last long, however, and you soon feel hungrier than when you first started.
Tip: Homemade biscuits are much better than shop bought so get baking. Use some whole grain flour and oats to give the biscuits more slow-release energy.
Diet food
If you're on a diet and looking to lose some weight you can often reach for diet foods. Low-fat cheese or 'healthy' cereal bars can be top of the list, but you might want to think again.
Why it's making you hungry: Diet foods can actually make you hungrier as they can be low in protein, which is the key nutrient for keeping you fuller for longer. Some diet foods aren't filling enough and may contain more sugar, carbs and sodium than your average dinner to enhance the flavour.
Tip: Don't reach for the diet foods, make your usual dishes and just half the portions instead. Adding plenty of protein to your dish will also keep you fuller for longer.
Chips
Chips, chips, chips - everyone loves chips! Serve with fish, chicken, steak, whatever you choose, chips are a great side dish that the whole family love tucking into. But these potato based goodies could actually be making you hungry.
Why it's making you hungry: Potatoes are white carbs that are full of starch which can be quickly digested by the body meaning you'll be hungry soon after. If you add salt to your chips this can lead to you feeling dehydrated, which can often be mistaken for hunger - so think before you sprinkle.
Tip: We'd recommend making homemade chips - you know exactly how you've prepared them and you don't have to add any salt to the mix either. Or swap your chips for sweet potato chips instead - they're much healthier and have less starch too.
Cakes
We all love a sweet treat every now and then and if you?re an avid baker or cake fan, there will always be something looming around your kitchen waiting to be snacked on. But think twice before you devour that chocolate chip muffin ? cakes are deceiving.
Why it's making you hungry: The more cake you eat, the more cake you?ll want - this is due to the high levels of sugar and fat in cakes which improve energy levels but in short bursts leaving you tired and hungry for more in a short while. Fatty foods are not good for the body and can harm your metabolism, making it harder for you to digest food at a normal rate.
Tip: Swap white caster sugar for brown and use oil instead of butter when making cakes. Decorate with fresh fruits instead of buttercream - this will cut down the fat content and calories too. Have a browse through our lower-fat cake recipes for more ideas.
Pizza
Pizza is such a quick and easy meal to rustle up especially when you buy ready-made pizzas from the supermarket. You might find yourself eating slice after slice and still craving more food a short time afterwards.
Why it's making you hungry: This delicious meal is full of empty promises. Carbs, fat and salt are all result in you feeling hungrier - especially the salt as it leaves you dehydrated. Fatty cheese and salty meat toppings only make it worse.
Tip: Make your own pizza. Top with fresh veggies, a fine sprinkle of cheese and make the pizza dough yourself. You could even make a wholemeal base.
Ginger
If you always find yourself adding some ginger to your healthy stir-fry or blitzing in your soup, you might want to reconsider if you're starting to feel rather hungry afterwards.
Why it's making you hungry: Ginger is good for beating morning sickness. This means that it helps to calm the nausea and revitalise the body, stimulating the digestive system ready to tackle some food - which in other words means, it makes you hungry!
Tip: Ginger has such a strong flavour you don't really need to add too much to your dish. Use just half the amount you would normally add - you'll still be able to taste it but it should hopefully stop the hungry after-effect.
Hot dog sausages
If the kids are always bugging you for hot dogs for dinner you were right to put your foot down. These American favourites are not as filling as you may think they are and leave you feeling rather unsatisfied.
Why it's making you hungry: Packaged hot dogs may be the easy option come mid-week but think again! Not only do these tasty dogs leave you wanting more, they fill your body with unnatural, fatty nutrients like additives which are hard for the body to digest and play havoc with your digestive system, making you crave more sugary and fatty foods.
Tip: If you're having a BBQ and were planning on making hot dogs, choose hamburgers instead or use fresh pork sausages instead of tinned or packet hot dog sausages.
Chinese food
It's nice to have a takeaway on Friday or Saturday night, but did you know that eating Chinese food can actually make you hungrier?
Why it's making you hungry: Some Chinese food contains MSGs, monosodium glutamate, which is a food additive that is used to improve flavour but can increase your appetite.
Tip: Make your own Chinese food instead. You'll know exactly what is being put into your dishes and they'll be much healthier too.
White pasta
Pasta is so simple and easy to cook, it's no wonder we've always got some hanging around in the back of the cupboards. It's so easy to rustle up a whole meal for the family with this easy-to-cook ingredient but did you know that it can actually leave you feeling rather hungry?
Why it's making you hungry: White pasta doesn't have much fibre in it which makes it more concentrated and sweet. The carbs in pasta cause your glucose levels to increase which can end up leaving you hungry.
Tip: Swap your white pasta for wholemeal pasta instead - it's much healthier and only takes a little longer to cook.
Yogurt
Yogurt is great source of calcium and is good for the bones but it can often leave you feeling pretty empty afterwards as it is digested rather quickly especially when you opt for flavoured pots as they are often packed full of additives and high-fructose corn syrup.
Why it's making you hungry: High-frutose corn syrup is used in most yogurts to sweeten them without using sugar. This syrup, which is used in other processed foods, can affect the way your brain registers hunger levels. It will often leave you feeling full and craving more food.
Tip: Greek yogurt or natural yogurts are much better than other types as they have less sugar and additives so check the packaging before you buy. Add nuts and seeds to your yogurt - these are a great form of protein and will help to keep you full until lunch time. Fresh berries and fruit work wonders too.
Fizzy drinks
We all deserve a fizzy treat every now and then but if its become your substitute for a snack you might want to reconsider eating some food over these fizzy creations.
Why it's making you hungry: Fizzy drinks are bursting with artificial sweeteners and sugar which have been shown to increase your appetite and sugar cravings. Sugar can give you a quick boost of energy but then once it has been digested, it leaves your body feeling low.
Tip: Swap your fizzy drinks for water instead. It may seem boring at first but water is so good for the body, you will feel refreshed and not as hungry. You could also opt for herbal teas or other fruity beverages that are low in sugar. Or if you really can't beat the habit just limit yourself to a glass a week - see if that makes a difference with your hunger.
Alcohol
A glass of wine in the evenings is sometimes a must, but did you know that alcohol can actually be making you hungry?
Why it's making you hungry: Alcohol can stimulate your appetite making you want to devour everything in sight - especially when you've had one too many. So a glass of wine will start the acid production in your digestive system getting you ready to digest food - and if you've already eaten, you'll be wanting to eat again!
Tip: Cut down your wine intake - half the amount you drink in the evenings or limit yourself to the weekend or drink wine before dinner rather than after, this will get your body ready to eat food rather than making you crave food after you've eaten a large meal.
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