14 Tips to Stop Food Cravings and Help You with Your Diet

Most of us "regular" folks, just like everyone else, don't have the perfect diet all the time and struggle with food issues. However, being aware of that fact and knowing a little about our health and nutrition can certainly help us when it comes time to making wise food decisions.

Studies tell us that many people struggle with food "cravings." This can happen quite frequently around bedtime, where, after a long hard day, our guards may be down. Yep, so there you go on your not-so-merry way to find that tasty treat! Fatigue and stress take their toll on the best of intentions!

When food cravings are unconstrained, what starts out as a bedtime snack, quickly turns into a full-blown feeding frenzy! Not fully understanding what is happening to us, we head to the kitchen and every other place where food may lurk.

However, most food cravings are emotionally related, or God forbid, caused by plain old gluttony. Overindulging is not completely understood, as it's not just about satisfying a nutritional need or imbalance.

What we need to do here is to become knowledgeable on the subject of food cravings and how they relate to our diets.

Ideas And Thoughts About Food Cravings

1. Remember, if the food isn't available, you can't eat it! So, go ahead and empty that cookie jar and keep it that way. Instead, be sure and keep healthy food choices on hand.

2. You need to learn how to recognize the emotions and feelings that lead you to a craving for food. If you can identify a trigger -- are you bored, lonely, or stressed? -- you can then deal with the emotion that's making you desire a certain food, dealing with these triggers in the best way possible.

3. Okay, good, you now recognize the triggers, but sometimes you just can't help craving that certain food! Don't beat yourself up about it. Instead, call a friend, making good use of your support network, and share your feelings with someone. Remember, there's always tomorrow!

4. When you're tired, you are more likely to crave things, so get enough sleep!

5. When you "slip," press-in, bear-down, get a grip, do whatever is necessary to regain that control. Try to practice restraint most of the time, but don't go ballistic in your weight loss approach. Think moderation and not abstinence at all times and don't ever give up!

6. Discipline and self-control by themselves just don't cut it! You will fail if you depend totally on yourself for control. It's of the utmost importance to form caring and supportive relationships. If you do not currently have a support network, start building one today!

7. Do you exercise? At least 30 minutes of physical activity every day increases those "feel-good" endorphins that cut down on your cravings.

8. Instead of stuffing yourself with every kind of food, hoping that your craving will go away, eat 100 to 200 calories of your "craved" food. Remember, it's all about moderation.

9. Substitute with low-fat foods and complex carbs. For instance, if you're hungry for chocolate, eat non-fat chocolate yogurt. Do you have a sweet craving? Try fig bars or raisins.

10. Never, ever skip a meal. You should eat every 3 to 5 hours. Try eating 6 smaller meals or regular meals with nutritious snacks in between.

11. Since hunger cravings are oftentimes related to stress, practice other ways to treat chronic stress. Go for a walk in the park, meditate or pray, sit in front of a cozy fireplace, take a long, leisurely bath -- all these stimulate pleasure. Relaxation techniques may work by reducing the psychological drives on stress output, which can be the root causes of stress. Substituting a pleasurable experience for comfort foods is actually a pretty simple idea!

12. Certain medications are appetite stimulants, such as drugs for the treatment of depression and bipolar disorder. Other drugs, both prescription and over the counter, may influence appetite as well, so be sure and discuss medications and food cravings with your doctor or pharmacist. He or she may be able to help you find an alternative way to stop those nasty food cravings.

13. We've all heard the old expression, "Idle hands are the devil's workshop!" Distract yourself. Staying busy will help keep you from caving in to that desire for food. Just keep on doing it until the cravings subside.

14. Do some general "house cleaning" in your kitchen cabinets and refrigerator by throwing out all that unhealthy stuff that is waiting to sabotage your diet. A little forethought and careful planning will go a long way for improving your chances, so start shopping more wisely.

Eat Wisely, Be Happy, And Live Long!

The information contained in this article -- for educational purposes only -- is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Before beginning any health care program, consult a health care practitioner.