Top 3 Lunch Ideas to Stop Afternoon Sugar Cravings

Before we dive into some delicious dishes, let’s pull back the curtain on sugar cravings.  Why they happen and what to eat to stop them.

Why do I crave sugar so much?

The root of sugar cravings links to sleep, diet and habits.  We’re naturally drawn to sweet foods and most processed food today has added sugar.  A weekly meal plan like DishQuo, uses real food.  This immediately reduces the amount of sugar in your diet. 

The right food combination is important to stopping sugar cravings.  Foods high on the glycemic index trigger fast spikes in blood sugar.  This leads to a dramatic drop in blood sugar and triggers you to seek more high GI (high sugar) foods to bring it back up.  This roller coaster ride not only keeps you craving sugar, but can put you at risk for Type 2 Diabetes. 

What should I eat to avoid sugar cravings?

Stabilize blood sugar with foods low to medium on the glycemic index.  Think real food with fiber, protein and healthy unsaturated fats.  DishQuo’s meal planning app has 2000+ recipes crafted to do  this.  Try some of our favorite healthy lunch recipes to stop sugar cravings before they start.

1.  Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

When you crave Chinese takeout for lunch, try DishQuo’s Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps.  Butter lettuce is the perfect wrap for this healthy lunch recipe.  Healthy fats from sesame and avocado oil keep you feeling full all afternoon long. 

Ingredients:

• • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 2 tbsp coconut aminos
  • 2 tsp sriracha
  • 1/2 tsp fish sauce
  • 4 tsp avocado oil
  • 1 cup sweet onion, chopped
  • ½ cup sliced button mushrooms
  • 4 oz ground chicken
  • 1 tbsp scallions, chopped
  • 4 oz Butter Lettuce
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper

Directions

1. 1. Add the sesame oil, coconut aminos, sriracha, and fish sauce to a small bowl. Stir until well combined, set aside.
   2. Heat the avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the onions and mushrooms, cooking until softened for 3 minutes.
   3. Add the chicken and cook for 8 minutes while stirring constantly.
   4. Add the sauce, cooking until the chicken is coated and the sauce is mostly gone.
   5. Season with salt and ground black pepper to taste.
   6. Fill the lettuce leaves with the chicken mixture, and sprinkle with green onions. If making in advance, store the chicken and lettuce separately, filling just prior to serving.

2.  Quinoa Waldorf Salad

Kick boring salads to the curb and try this Quinoa Waldorf Salad.   Plenty of protein and fiber in this vegan salad recipe keep you away from the afternoon sugar hunt.  Grapes and honeycrisp apples give you enough sweetness to curb any sugar craving.

Ingredients:

• • ¼ cup quinoa
  • 2 cups organic spinach
  • 1/4 cup red seedless grapes, quartered
  • 1/2 honeycrisp apple, cored & sliced
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 tsp Dijon mustard
  • ¼ tsp ground black pepper
  • ¼ tsp salt

Directions

1. 1. Cook the quinoa according to package instructions. Once cooked, fluff with a fork.
   2. In a small bowl, combine the garlic, olive oil, balsamic, dijon mustard and salt and pepper.
   3. In a large serving bowl, add the cooked quinoa, spinach, grapes, apples, and walnuts.
   4. Add the dressing and toss to coat.
   5. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve immediately.

3.  Almond Butter Noodles

Traditional pasta from white flour leaves you hungry an hour after eating.  High in carbs and low in fiber, it spikes your blood sugar, leading to crash soon after.  This is when you start thinking about a sugar fix to get your energy up again. 

Avoid the sugar craving cycle with Almond Butter Noodles.  We use high protein and fiber lentil pasta.  Tossed with almond butter and plenty of vegetables for a healthy mix of fat and fiber.  This is sure to be a healthy lunch recipe you’ll return to time and time again.

Ingredients:

• • 1 oz  lentil pasta
  • 1/2 tsp ginger, grated
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tbsp almond butter
  • 2 tsp low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tsp white wine vinegar
  • 1/2 lime, juiced
  • 1 tbsp water
  • ½ tsp sriracha, to taste
  • 1/2 cup fresh cabbage, chopped
  • 1 tbsp scallions, chopped

Directions

1. 1. Cook the lentil pasta according to the package instructions.
   2. In a medium bowl, mix together the ginger, garlic, almond butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, lime juice, water, and sriracha.
   3. Place the cabbage, cooked lentil pasta, and scallions into the pasta bowl, and pour in the sauce.
   4. Toss to combine and serve immediately.

Now that you know the best foods to stop sugar cravings, put your knowledge into practice. Sign up for two weeks free with DishQuo today.   We’ll help you create healthy lunches that stop afternoon sugar cravings in their tracks. With a little bit of preparation, you can say goodbye to those pesky cravings once and for all!