Handy Tips for Getting Rid of Food Cravings

I thought I might put an article in here about how to stop food cravings. I know its not always easy to do, and usually if you've been binging all day, it's hard to stop in the middle and make a switch to healthier eating. Basically, these are some tips I follow when I want to start over on the next day.

1. Eat as much healthy food as possible and stay away from sugary foods/desserts. I find even if I just start up having that one piece of pumpkin cheesecake or that one cookie, it'll end up putting me back offtrack and eating more sugary foods than I expected to. Sweet things are like potato chips to me. I can't have just one lol

2. Keep away from really salty foods. I find having foods saturated with salt (like potato chips or garlic bread) can also set me off on a binge for candy or desserts. But having vegetables or a bit of protein can help me stay away from anything salty.

3. Distract yourself with activities so you don't think about food. I often have problems with this myself, as I often eat just so it feels like I am doing something. But I can see how if I got involved in other hobbies or interests, I could quickly forget about eating just to make time pass.

4. Try to use condiments and spreads that don't have sugar in them. This goes for peanut butter and jam too. If I have a really bad sugar craving, sometimes even having a sandwich with barbeque sauce can set off a binge, as the barbeque sauce is often sweetened with sugar. Sometimes I can get away with having a bit of sweet barbeque sauce or sugar filled ketchup, but on those days when anything might set me off, I'll try to stay away from it. Especially if it's the first thing I have on an empty stomach.

5. Drink plenty of water. Or at least try to. I know how hard it is to drink plain old water when you eat a lot of sugar. But it does cleanse your palate a little bit and can make it easier for you to stay off the junk food.

6. Add more healthy food to your diet. If you are like me and you skimp on lunches sometimes, don't be surprised if you still feel hungry a half hour after lunch. It could mean you just didn't have enough food. Try adding some protein like fish or deli sliced meat, or have some vegetables. It may help rid you of cravings so you can get on with the day without snacking.