Last week, I wrote about eating the right foods to try to stave off any bugs that might get us this winter. I also mentioned that at this time of year, we have a tendency to crave high carb comfort, and that this can be ruinous for our waistline. Judging by the number of readers who have talked to me on the subject since, this is an issue for lots of you.
One woman told me the worst aspect of the dark evenings is that she can’t stop snacking. She isn’t alone. Loads of folk munch their way through nights in front of the TV, in a bid to cheer themselves up.
The thing is that snacking is quite a modern phenomenon, isn’t it? Think back to when we were children, did people regularly chomp through crisps, chocolates and other sweets after their evening meal? No. I remember that the only concession to hunger pangs was a cup of cocoa at bedtime and maybe, if we were lucky, a biscuit too. How habits have changed.
And how our bodies have too. At the end of the 1950s, the average man weighed 65kg and the average woman 55kg. Now, the figures are 83.
6kg for males and 70.2kg for females. Shall we just let that sink in? To come back to our seasonal behaviour, what might stop us snacking? Well, if you’re snuggled up on the sofa with someone you love, and you exchange some cuddles and kisses, the chances are that you’re not snacking.
Perhaps more passion and less indulgence in food could be a way forward! I know this doesn’t help people living alone. But all of us could look for a.
