Choosing healthier snacks

1. Sugary snacks. 

From ice-creams to chocolate bars, our desire for sugar can seem irresistible. There may be a physiological reason for your sweet tooth: yeast infections, a deficiency in chromium or magnesium or an under-active thyroid can all cause sugar cravings. Or you might simply be riding the roller-coaster of sugar highs and lows, which lead to a vicious circle of unhealthy eating. 

Firstly, ensure that you're drinking enough water. Secondly, cut off your sugar fixation by filling up on healthy foods - a bowl of porridge for breakfast, with cinnamon (a great sugar substitute), raw cacoa nibs and a handful of nuts will keep you full and immune to tempation for hours! Add chopped dates if this really isn't sweet enough - although they are high in fruit sugar, they are also a great source of fibre. 

In order to protect yourself from last minute temptation, prepare some alternatives in advance. Try: 

• All fruit ice lollies - puree some fruit and freeze in ice-lolly holders.
• Trail mix - prepare a bag of raisins, dark chocolate chunks and almonds to snack on. 
• Homemade granola - there are lots of recipes online for this really satisfying snack. We love this one in particular.  

2. Salty snacks.

A desire for salty snacks can indicate a lack of sodium chloride, dehydration or a deficiency in electrolytes. Once again, check that you have been drinking enough water (yes, this is becoming a theme!). A prolonged salt craving can indicate an adrenal problem, but it's more likely to be habit and, in this weather, the loss of too much salt through sweating. 

Instead of crisps, try snacking on olives, a handful of roasted nuts, hummus and carrot sticks, kale chips or air-popped popcorn.