Help! I don’t want to get fat again this winter! Every year when the weather cools down, I start craving comfort foods and end up gaining about 20 pounds. My sister says that cutting out carbs (like macaroni ‘n’ cheese) is the only way to avoid this, but that would require enormous willpower. Is she right?
Avoiding carbohydrates during cold weather can actually work against you. Carbs signal brain cells to soak up tryptophan, a building block of the feel-full neurotransmitter serotonin. And when weak winter sunlight sends serotonin levels plunging, this boost can be a life-saver. The trick is to enjoy a few “pure carb” snacks (with little or no protein) each day. By maximizing overall tryptophan uptake, such foods can slash comfort-food cravings by 81 percent. Your slimming strategy: At each meal, have at least one serving of carbs and one serving of protein (1 1/2 cups of mac ‘n’ cheese fits the bill). Between meals and again after dinner, snack on a pure carb. Options include apples, oatmeal and unbuttered air-popped popcorn.
