Eating healthy, eating less?

After spending too much money on Restaurant Week, and eating foie gras two nights in a row last week, I decided this week I should brown bag my lunch, as well as eat healthier food. Since work is still keeping me busy, I knew I'd be more likely to succeed if I made putting together lunch easy. So I went to Sevan Bakery in Watertown and bought some sauteed chickpeas and Armenian potato salad. I also stopped by Arax Market, also in Watertown, and bought some nivik*, made with chickpeas and swiss chard (a quick search on the internet suggests nivik is usually made with spinach). I then picked up a head of Boston lettuce at Stop & Shop for sandwiches.

I was planning on some really nutritious, high fiber lunches.

Yesterday for lunch I had a peanut butter sandwich made with wheat bread, Welch's grape jelly, and organic peanut butter. In addition, I had a cup each of the nivik and Armenian potato salad. Today I went with a cheese sandwich (provolone, Boston lettuce, and mayo), one cup of the nivik, and some dates for dessert.

What I've noticed both days is that I am NOT feeling hungry by 3 or 4 in the afternoon like I usually do. Thus, I didn't go to the vending machine or the little convenience store in our building to buy a bag of chips. Today, I did start to feel hungry around 5, so I gave in and got some chips. However, my point is that by eating these healthier foods I may be feeling full longer, which is a good thing. In fact, tonight when I got home around 7 I didn't feel the urge to immediately eat something. In fact, I just had a small bowl of the sauteed chickpeas, and that's all I needed, at least for now.

So I guess those nutrition experts who say that eating healthier will make you feel fuller and help eliminate those late afternoon food cravings are right...

*I normally avoid cooked spinach, kale, swiss chard, or any cooked leafy greens like the plague. I hate the bitter taste and the wilty, slimy texture. However, I'd had nivik a few months ago at a friend's place and noticed that because of the other ingredients in the appetizer I didn't taste the spinach. So I looked specifically for this knowing it was a good way to get myself to eat one of those ever healthy cooked leafy greens.