Five tips that will help you resist food cravings
As if sticking to a healthy nutritious daily diet isn’t difficult enough, along come cravings to take it from hard to impossible. All day you avoid the usual snack traps; vending machines, candy dishes, the open bakery box on the table. And just when you think you’ve made it beyond the worry zone, it happens. You are hit with a craving for food you know you should not eat. You try to ignore the craving. You try to avoid the craving. You even try to outwit the craving. But it doesn’t work. You are unable to elude the craving. So you give in.
You are not alone. Cravings are a common dilemma faced by people just like you everyday. You just need to learn how to beat your cravings.
1. Determine what kind of food you are craving. Is it a salty food? Is it a sweet food? Is it a candy? Are you craving chocolate? Are you craving cake? Once you identify which type of snack you are craving, find a low-fat, low-calorie substitute. For example, if you are in the mood for cookies try eating a 100 calorie pack of Teddy Grahams or mini Oreo’s. Instead of ice cream, eat a half cup serving of frozen yogurt.
2. Satisfy your craving. You don’t have to eat an entire piece of cake or candy bar to satisfy a craving. Try eating two bites of the cake or a couple of squares of chocolate. But only try this if you believe this will work for you. If you are the type of person that cannot stop at just one or two of something, then don’t try this option.
3. Drink two glasses of water. Often when people think they are craving food, it is because they are thirsty. If you drink the water and still feel like you want the food, then force yourself to wait an hour before giving in to the craving. If you aren’t really hungry you may find once the hour is up you no longer crave the food.
4. Distract yourself. A great distraction is exercise. Usually after finishing exercise the craving will have passed. Sometimes the exercise will cause your body to crave something a little healthier. If you are still craving an illicit food after you exercise, indulge yourself a little. Try option 1 or 2 above. At least you will have burned some calories and boosted your metabolism before you indulged.
5. Increase your fiber intake. The recommended daily intake of fiber is 35g. Most people do not consume the recommended amount per day. Increasing your fiber intake has been proven to reduce cravings. Besides being very filling, fiber reduces spikes in your blood sugar levels. This reduces cravings and is extremely healthy for you.
