HOW TO AVOID FOOD CRAVINGS

What Is a Food Craving?

A food craving is a desire to consume a food or drink when such consumption either exceeds or does not contribute to the body’s nutrient requirements

Strategy 1: Get Smart

Find out your body’s requirements in terms of sleep, nutrition, and exercise

Strategy 2: Sleep Well

Determine what an ideal night of sleep is for you, and strive to achieve it every night in order to minimize your level of fatigue

Strategy 3: Eat Well

Consume a variety of healthy foods and drinks, focusing mainly on low-sugar, low-fat meals that are high in water content and full of nutrients

Strategy 4: Be Active

Get your metabolism in high gear by avoiding a sedentary lifestyle

Strategy 5: Minimize Stress

Remove unnecessary stresses from your life, and learn to accept stresses that you have to live with

Strategy 6: Maximize Happiness Replace food as a source of pleasure

with hobbies and other exciting diversions

Strategy 7: Steer Clear

Avoid situations in which you frequently experience food cravings: stay away from buffet restaurants and the junk food aisles at the supermarket, and throw away junk food that’s brought to your home

Strategy 8: Take Baby Steps Long-standing habits are hard to break,

so set goals for yourself and strive to achieve them one day at a time

Strategy 9: Be Critical

Put food in perspective and have a healthy attitude towards it: we eat to live, not the other way around, so be critical of media messages that encourage us to consume food mindlessly

Strategy 10: Be Realistic

It will be impossible not to indulge your food cravings from time to time; just move on and don’t guilt yourself with thoughts like, “Oh well, I screwed up, so I might as well binge all night and start fresh tomorrow”