What are they and how do you conquer them?
One of the most difficult parts of living a healthier life is your diet. Whether you’re trying to shed some pounds or just trying to have a couple less late-night poutines, one of the best ways to stick to a healthy lifestyle is by controlling your cravings. Even though we have probably all had them, what are cravings? Usually, food cravings come from wanting a specific meal, regardless of whether or not it’s healthy – from sugary sweets, your favourite fast food, or some greasy home-cooked comfort food. The reasons behind cravings have been heavily debated, and there have been both psychological as well as biological arguments given. To break down the psychological side, people usually crave foods that give them some form of comfort. You might be having a tough week, or stressed out about the test that you haven’t really studied for, and the best course of action at that time may be to reach for the slice of chocolate cake sitting in your fridge. The alleviation of stress also connects to the biological rationale behind cravings. When we eat our favourite foods, especially if they’re high in sugar or fats, they have a substantial impact on the dopamine centre in our brains, which rewards us with a feeling of pleasure from the dish we just consumed. We start associating these tasty treats with feeling good, and this leads to craving these foods above other healthier options
Now that you know the reasons behind food cravings, what can be done about them? While there are no hard and fast rules about how to get that sugar monkey off your back, here are some suggestions to conquer your cravings.
Stay well hydrated
Oftentimes when people think they feel hungry, their body is actually telling them they need some more H2O. The body can easily misinterpret hunger and thirst signals, which can have you reaching for that bag of chips instead of that glass of water. Try to keep properly hydrated, and you may see your food craving washed away.
Stay busy, but not too busy
Time management is a difficult skill to master, and it can make it difficult to stay on a healthy meal plan. Sometimes it’s just easier to grab a slice of pizza or a burger than it is to cook up some chicken and veggies. It’s important to schedule enough time to make a nutritious meal, whether you do that by leaving an open hour for cooking every day or by doing meal prep for the coming week on a Sunday afternoon. On the flipside of being busy, if you’re bored and sitting around the house, chowing down on a box of donuts may seem like a great way to pass the time. Make sure that you stay busy enough to avoid becoming a couch potato snacking on potato chips.
Loosen up and live a little
One of the biggest reasons for people to give into their food cravings is because their regular diet is bland and too restrictive. Humans were not meant to survive on steamed veggies and tilapia alone. If you do feel like treating yourself, try to keep it all in moderation. Have that slice of pie after dinner, or grab that mocha frappuccino at your favourite coffee shop, but there’s no need to do it every day. If you want to have a treat every once in a while go for it. Try having a smaller portion if you’re worried about your svelte figure, and take the rest home for another time. The healthiest diet is one that is not only nutritious, but also one that you can stick to. Life’s too short to worry about every single morsel we put into our bodies, but when you indulge make sure that you do so smartly. Enjoy a treat every once in a while to keep yourself healthy and happy.