Cravings can get in the way of your healthy diet, making it harder to reach your goals when you give in to temptations. But we’ve all been there! Luckily, there are steps you can take to help eliminate those cravings. Here are nine tips for dealing with your urge to overindulge.
• Eat regularly. Don’t skip breakfast, morning snack, lunch, evening snack and dinner.
• Avoid your triggers. “You crave what you eat, so if you switch what you’re eating, you can weaken your old cravings and strengthen new ones,” says Marcia Pelchat, PhD, of the Monell Center. Try to eat healthy foods like lean protein, fruits, nuts.
• Avoid stress. When you are stressed you usually have more cravings.
• Sleep enough and if you can, take a nap. You have more cravings when you’re tired.
• Brush your teeth after meals. “When you have a fresh, clean mouth, you don’t want to mess it up,” says Molly Gee, RD, of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.
• Distract yourself or do something fun. Call a friend, read a book, paint, write and try to think positive thoughts.
• Don’t have junk food in your fridge or kitchen. If you know that you have cake, cookies, sweets or high-calorie foods, you’ll always think about it the moment you feel hungry.
• Drink water. Sometimes we are really just thirsty when we think we’re hungry.
• Eat healthy fat and fiber. Both fat and fiber help you feel full.
I eat frequently and I have good food with me all time! I have a weekly menu that includes three meals and two snacks. I grab my food in a small lunch box and I bring it with me all the time at the gym, in my office, and I keep it in my fridge so I have food that I can enjoy. I also drink coffee, and that helps me with my sugar cravings. My recommendation is to indulge yourself within limits, don’t feel guilty, enjoy and try to continue eating healthy!
For even more tips, check out Jaime Baird’s “Tame Your Sweet Tooth” article and for a list of healthy treats that will help satisfy your sweet tooth, check out this article from Gina Aliotti, “Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth”.
Reference:
http://www.rd.com/health/healthy-eating/10-ways-to-control-your-cravings/
