Posted by Sidra Forman on Thu, Oct 08, 2009
Once again last night, I found myself sitting at my desk finishing up some work. It's usually at this point in the evening when I start thinking about a snack, and last night was no different. I paused and contemplated whether or not I was actually hungry (using Bob Greene's Hunger Scale, a 10-point scale that helps you measure your hunger or fullness level), or if I was just looking for a distraction or some extra energy.
Once I determined that I wasn't hungry, I wandered to the kitchen and poured myself a tall glass of water. I took it back up to my desk and drank it. As soon as I finished, I started thinking about snacking again—that's when I realized that what I really needed was some ginger tea.
As the weather starts to turn colder, I will end most of my days with a cup of ginger tea. I grate about two teaspoons of fresh ginger in a mug and pour about two cups of boiling water over the ginger. Within a minute or two, it's ready to drink.
I can't really explain why this calorie-free beverage is so satisfying, but for me it is. And, as an added bonus, ginger is said to aid in digestion and reduce inflammation. It's the perfect way to soothe a snack urge—give it a try the next time your tummy growls!
To learn more about Bob Greene's Hunger Scale or for more healthy ways to satisfying hunger, join TheBestLife.com.
Posted by Sidra Forman on Thu, Jun 25, 2009
Cool, refreshing drinks and summertime go hand in hand. My beverage of choice: Water—a calorie-free way to quench your thirst. In fact, I usually carry around a reusable water bottle and sip it throughout the day.
I do try to mix it up a bit to get a little variety, and one easy way to do that is to add some fresh herbs to your water. This time of year, my herb garden is bursting with a variety of herbs. I'll snip off a few and add them to fresh water in a bottle or pitcher. I'll refrigerate the water for a few hours to let the herbs infuse and the water chill. (For a more intense flavor, you can leave the bottle overnight.) My favorite herbs to add to water are spearmint, rosemary, peppermint, lavender and lemon verbena. Give it a try to add a little kick to your water.
For more on healthy eating, check out TheBestLife.com.