How to avoid calories during the ‘craving hour’

Just as the clock strikes six in the evening, Parul Karnawat begins to feel an unmistakable pang in her stomach! She has to eat something, and if nothing healthy is handy then this normally calorie-conscious girl succumbs to ‘pizza, gol gappe or chocolate pastry.’

Does this ‘craving call’ ring a bell with you? It does with all the foodies, fitness freaks and diet experts whom After Hrs quizzed about their daily ‘weak hour’.

Usually, it’s that time between 6pm and 7pm when people yearn for a quick snack the most. And, for dieters this makes this one hour the deadliest. A tiny slip and they can end up gorging on hundreds of sinful calories!

“It happens to me as soon I return from office,” recounts Lakshika Garg, a management executive. “I am so hungry that I can eat anything. And, if nothing home-cooked is available, I end up eating biscuits, chips or anything ready to eat.”

While this craving is unavoidable, it doesn’t necessarily have to be handled in an unhealthy manner. Lakshika, for example, has now made up her mind to eat only salad or fruits in the evening.

However, this simple resolution is difficult to carry out for those who do not have the luxury of being home in the evening. Like BPO employee Yash Thakur. Yash has to remain at his desk till it’s time for his break. And, he is not even allowed to carry eatables on his floor. So, the minute he gets up, he heads to his canteen.

“And, canteen only has processed or junk food. I have no other option but to eat it,” he rues.

Yash claims he used to be a fit-looking person when he took on this job, but over the last months he has gained a lot of weight. “Now, I bring something to eat from home and keep it in my locker,” he declares. “When I get a break, I just eat my home-made parantha.”

Although one may wonder that paranthas do not seem like an ideal way to shed the extra kilos, they are still healthier than the cheese-stuffed processed food that Yash was having earlier. The best way to deal with pangs is to not be caught unawares by them.

Jewellery designer Pooja Agarwal understands that she craves food once in the afternoon and once in the evening. So now, she carries two apples with her. “And, if I am home, then I use this hour as the time to cook small snacks or soup,” she beams.

Pooja does the right thing by not ignoring her hunger. As dietician and nutritionist Sheela Krishnaswamy puts in, “Most people eat their lunch at around 1pm and the next big meal is sometime after 8pm in the evening. Now, having worked through an afternoon, it’s just natural that people feel terribly hungry in the evening. An ideal situation would be to have an early dinner around 7.30pm and have a bit of fruit or milk before going to bed. But most people do not get out of work that early.”

Sheela also advises people to make the most of what is available in and around the workplace. “If you’re fond of chaats, go for a fruit chaat or bhelpuri without the sev. See if you can get a whole-wheat sandwich without dressing. Corn — boiled corn or roasted bhutta — is another healthy snack. And of course, unbuttered popcorn helps too. Roasted or masala peanuts are great and you can always carry a handful of dry fruits and mixed nuts from home, to munch on during the evenings. As far as beverages go, try the packaged lassi that’s readily available in stores or even tender coconut water.”

Now, we hope the next time you are dying for a snack, you wouldn’t guiltily dig into junk. Just carry something nutritious and happily treat yourself to it!

(With inputs from Anindita Mitra)