10 Ways to Curb Those Cravings

It’s the eternal question; why don’t we crave things like Brussels sprouts, parsnips and kale? I think it has something to do with the fact that they taste awful, but I’m no nutritionist. Our cravings are both generalized (sugar, salt) and specific (double chocolate chunk ice cream, those chips in the round tube, glazed donuts, etc).

We each have our Achilles’ heel when it comes to cravings, and they usually have a trigger; something that “goes with them,” like chips and a movie, donuts and coffee, or a pint of Ben and Jerry’s and feelings of loneliness. It’s a very good thing to know your craving triggers as it will assist you in combating them. Yes, cravings can be difficult to overcome, but there are methods to combat them. Here are ten, hopefully a few will work for you.

Stuff something healthy in your mouth as soon as the craving hits, or just prior to when you know it’s going to hit since you now know your triggers. Don’t sit there and obsess about whether you should eat that chocolate or not. Scarfing a banana, some low-fat yogurt or last night’s baked chicken may convince your stomach and brain that you no longer need that chocolate.

Keep that crap out of the house. Yes, most of us are weak people when it comes to cravings. That being the case, keep the things that make you defenseless out of the house and replace them with healthier options. And don’t beat yourself up for being weak.

Play Candy Crush or get caught up in some other distracting activity for 20 minutes or so as that’s usually the life span of a craving. A great distracting activity that’s beneficial to your health and the polar opposite of eating sugary snacks is to go for a 20-minute walk.

Chew some gum, preferably of the sugar-free variety. It seems that with the simple process of chewing, you can trick your body into thinking some food is on the way…silly body.

Chug a bottle of water…well, maybe “chug” is a bad word choice, how about, “drink a bottle of water quickly?” Again, this craving hack tricks the body into believing your stomach is otherwise occupied, thus ending your craving.

Snort some fresh peppermint…well, maybe “snort” is a bad word choice, how about “breath in deeply while some fresh, crushed peppermint is beneath your nose?” A 2008 study found that this can decrease cravings and cause the consumption of fewer calories throughout the day.

Graze on healthy snacks throughout the day in a manner similar to how a cow grazes on grass throughout its day. If you keep your tank topped off, you’ll decrease your susceptibility to cravings.

Eat more lean protein, like seafood, baked chicken/turkey or low-fat dairy. Proteins take longer to digest, which keeps us feeling full longer. This, in turn, helps prevent cravings.

Brush your teeth rather than eating those chocolate chip cookies. This may trick your mind into thinking the meal is over. Also, who wants to eat anything after brushing their teeth? And if your toothpaste is mint flavored, you won’t have to snort fresh peppermint.

Enlist the help of family and friends to keep you strong and talk you down when you know cravings are about to strike. You’ll be amazed how a cravings drill sergeant can cause you to drop that giant bag of Doritos.

The musical artist, K.D. Lang, sang of a “Constant Craving” back in 1992. Hopefully, your cravings are far from constant, but if they are the ten tips discussed in this post should change them from constant to occasional.