Curb Cravings

When I discuss cravings, I’m typically referring to those moments that we find ourselves wanting to eat certain foods or food in general between meals, even when we know we aren’t really hungry. There are no real signs of hunger, and we might have even eaten a meal just an hour ago. A craving is a strong desire that almost feels like a need, that in order to feel satisfied, it has to happen. However, in the case of using food to satisfy a craving, we don’t always know the reason behind that craving when it’s not related to real hunger (indicating a real need).

I think that it is important to develop a consistent eating pattern for yourself every day, as the best solution to encountering cravings. Your body loves routine and can adjust quicker than you may realize. So, a good eating pattern (followed with consistency) to keep unnecessary cravings at bay might look like the following: breakfast; A.M. snack; Lunch; P.M. snack; Dinner; & maybe a healthy evening snack. You can also adjust portion sizes and eliminate extra snacking one day at a time, until you find your perfect rhythm – while also meeting your unique day to day nutrient/calorie needs and goals. Your body will adjust to your food choices, so this usually means instilling a little discipline. A short-term challenge for long term benefits!

*Consuming water or other liquids throughout the day (low in sugar, additives, and high calories) can help keep you from feeling ‘hungry’. When you do snack, snack smart. This means complex carbs, healthy fats and proteins that keep you feeling satisfied longer, as well as contributing to more nutrient dense calories. Also try cutting down on consuming less processed foods with additives that can be addictive in nature such as sugar, synthetic flavor enhancers, etc.

Try distracting yourself with a task you need to get done. Cravings often arise to achieve instant gratification – so in that case they can occur when we are avoiding work or tasks that require more work to achieve that feeling of accomplishment (delayed gratification).