Have you ever wondered why you’re still hungry when you just ate? Or why you’re tired or unable to concentrate? There are many possible explanations for this, but one main reason is what you ate. Did it have qualities to make you feel satisfied and full and give you sustained energy to travel, do exercise and chores, and focus on work and school? In this post, I share nutrients and foods that have long-lasting effects on appetite and ideas for meals and snacks that have staying power.
Long-Lasting Nutrients
While research on the mechanisms by which nutrients satisfy appetite, hunger, and satiety is ongoing, these findings were consistent in the literature reviewed.
- Consuming protein is associated with less hunger1.
- Dietary fat fills up the stomach and increases feeling of fullness1.
- Fiber-rich foods that take a while to chew (such as fresh fruits and vegetables) allow satiety signals more time to work2.
- Fiber-rich foods that dissolve in water and form gels or gums in the digestive tract (such as oats) decrease appetite2.
- Drinking water before a meal resulted in less intake of that meal3,4.
- Drinking cold or room temperature water stretched the stomach and slowed stomach emptying more than hot water3.
Long-Lasting Foods
Long-lasting foods are good sources of lean protein, healthy fat, fiber, or water or a combination of these nutrients. See the table below for examples of possible options.
Meals and Snacks That Have Staying Power
Meals and snacks that have staying power include a balance of long-lasting foods. See the tables below for examples. Add fresh fruits and vegetables for more fiber and water.
What we eat affects our hunger and energy levels and ability to concentrate. Meals and snacks that have staying power are balanced with long-lasting foods that are good sources of lean protein, healthy fat, fiber, and/or water. What has and hasn’t worked for you? Did you get any ideas from this post? What would you like to try? Please share by commenting or spreading the love below.
References
- Carreiro, A.L., Dhillion, J., Gordon, S., Jacobs, A.G., Higgins, K.A., McArthur, B.M., Redan, B.W., Rivera, R.L., Schmidt, L.R., and Mattes, R.D. (2016 July 17). “The macronutrients, appetite and energy intake.” Annual Review of Nutrition, 36, 73-103.
- Rebello, C.J., O’Neil, C.E., and Greenway, F.L. (2016). “Dietary fiber and satiety: the effects of oats on satiety.” Nutrition Reviews, 74(2), 131-147.
- Fujihira, K., Hamada, Y., Yanaoka, T., Yamamot, R. Suzuki, K., and Miyashita, M. (2020). “The effects of water temperature on gastric motility and energy intake in healthy young men.” European Journal of Nutrition, 59, 103-109.
- Jeong, J.N. (2018, October). “Effect of Pre-meal Water Consumption on Energy Intake and Satiety in Non-obese Young Adults.” Clinical Nutrition Research, 4, 291-296.
This is such a helpful article! Being aware of the make up of meals and how your body processes its components can help us eat smart and give our body the nutrients it needs without overeating.
Thank you, Kaybee Lives! Yes – food and nutrition knowledge help as well as mindful, slow eating 🙂
this is so true, its important to be aware of what we put in our body and if it makes us more hungry even after eating.
Thanks, Jean! Yes – what we eat and how eat it can really affect our hunger 🙂
I always like eating healthy snacks throughout the day to help me keep my energy up.
Jimmy Clare, thank you! It is good to have healthy snacks to keep us going 🙂
This is actually very helpful! I am reminded to be mindful about what I eat and consume each day. Thank you for sharing this with us xx
My pleasure, Martina! I’m happy you find this helpful. Thank you 🙂
Great meal plans! You made this very easy to follow.
Adriane, thank you! I’m glad these examples help make long-lasting meals more feasible 🙂
It’s very important to know exactly what you’re putting in your body. A great read with lots of information!
I agree, Erica! What one consumes makes difference in so many ways. Thank you 🙂
Great information and lots of details. This was really helpful in figuring out what to eat that will keep you full but still be healthy. Thank you for the tips.
Thank you, Rosita! I’m glad this helped 🙂
Love your spreadsheets! Such a great way to visually show how to get all the best nutrients for power your day. Thank you for reaffirming what I do with my family and providing some new ideas too.
This really is a helpful article! I just had a gastric bypass in July so it’s been an adventure eating for sure. I need good snacks with staying power for sure, especially since I have to really focus on protein! This post gave me some good ideas.
Thank you so much, Evie! I, myself, am very visual. I’m glad this serves as reinforcement and introduced something new, as well 🙂
Heather, thank you so much! I’m happy to read that this post gave you ideas for long-lasting, protein-rich snacks 🙂
the different options for meals are fantastic. I like how the tables are set up to show the breakdowns.
Thank you, Adrienne! I’m glad you like the meal options and table breakdowns 🙂