Tips to avoid a food emergency!! 
It may seem as though we live in a land of plenty. Everywhere you look there are vending machines, restaurants and stores offering an endless assortment of quick and cheap snacks and meals. And yet, the reality is everyday most Americans live in a constant state of emergency. Either they skip breakfast or they put themselves at the mercy of the local coffee chain feeding them high-sugar coffees and donuts or muffins or scones. And then, at work, there are bowls of candy and vending machines full of soda and on the way home, there are fast food restaurants and convenience stores luring you in. We live in a toxic nutritional wasteland where finding real, whole, fresh food is difficult if not impossible for most people.
What is a food emergency? When your blood sugar starts to drop, you are hard-wired to eat anything (and everything) in sight. To think you can use willpower to control your hunger or cravings contradicts the science of how your brain controls your behavior. The more willpower you use, the more it backfires, eventually. You find yourself automatically overeating and bingeing or just eating whatever happens to be in front of you.
But there is a solution, a simple, practical idea that most of us never think about: planning and bringing food with us.
There are tons of simple, health foods that you can stash at work, in your car, or even your purse to make sure when you need food it’s there. I recommend including protein snacks, because protein controls your appetite and balances your blood sugar, without the quick sugar rush and crash that follows from eating “snack foods”. If you wait until you are hungry, you will eat everything in sight, set yourself up for success!
Here is a brief list of simple to make, or buy foods that can go anywhere. With a little bit of planning and shopping, we can stay health and keep yourself out of food emergencies that lead to eating “junk food” and high sugar snacks. This is a short list but don’t be afraid to explore other options, be sure to include food with good-quality protein and fats that are low in sugar.
Things That Last Forever:
•Canned wild salmon or sardines
•Flax or seed crackers
•Jerky (bison, grass-fed beef or turkey
•Salmon Jerky (Vital Choice)
•Nuts and seeds (almonds, walnuts, pecans, macadamia nuts and pumpkin seeds)
•Nut butters (almond, pecan, macadamia nuts—Artisana makes individual packs)
•Coconut butter packets (Artisana brand is great)
•Whole food or raw food protein bars (Raw Revolution and LÄRABAR from your coop are my favorites)
•Artichoke hearts
•Roasted red peppers
Easy-To-Prepare On-the-Go Snacks:
• Garbanzo beans with olive oil, lemon, garlic and salt
•Hard-boiled omega 3 eggs
•Hummus (Try Wild Garden single-serve packets that last a long time)
•Cut-up carrots, cucumbers, peppers and celery in Ziploc baggies
•Apple or pear
Treats:
•Dark chocolate (70%) (Dark chocolate macadamia nuts Dr. Brooks favorites!!)
•Dried figs
•Dates
Remember that planning for success is half the battle. Start by making yourself a list of quick, easy, and health foods to have at your work place and in your car or purse. You’ll soon find yourself making better decisions throughout the day, which will lead to increased energy and stamina, while avoiding overeating on simple processed carbs.
Yours in Health
Brooks C. Laber D.C.