Food cravings have been the bane of many dieters and have caused countless diets to fail. That piece of cake in the fridge or the idea of a plate of chips can cause irresistible cravings until we finally give up and then start feeling guilty about jumping off the diet bandwagon. Fortunately, there are ways to deal with cravings without giving up diet altogether.
Cravings for certain types of food occur for various reasons. Dieters experience cravings for some foods because they are off-limits and thus become even more irresistible. Pregnant women often experience sometimes weird and strange food cravings that can mostly be explained by high levels of hormones in their bodies. Some cravings can be explained by nutritional reasons, such as having low blood sugar that triggers cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods.
If cravings for a certain food are giving you trouble, here are some tips on how to deal with them. If you suddenly have a craving for cake (or whatever your favorite food is), wait 20 minutes before doing anything about it. If after 20 minutes it’s still not gone, allow yourself to eat a small portion, this will allow you to taste it without ruining your diet. When you’re on a diet, it’s best not to ban any food entirely, as it will only make you want it more.
Try to use a substitute food. If you have a craving for chips, try popcorn without salt or butter. This will help satisfy your hunger without eating too many calories. If you experience cravings at a certain time, like watching TV in the evening, take a short walk or catch up on housework, whatever distracts you.
One way to deal with cravings is to prevent them from happening in the first place. Blood sugar levels are the key to doing this. If you can keep your blood sugar levels steady throughout the day, you’ll be much less likely to experience cravings. The best way to do this is to eat 5 or 6 small meals instead of 3 large ones, as this provides a constant source of energy for the body.
Although food cravings are a problem for many people, they can be overcome by following some of the tips above and a little self-discipline.