Is your sweet tooth getting out of control, or do you feel like that bag of chips is always calling your name? Thankfully, dietitian Julie Upton, MS, RD, of Appetite for Health, is here to offer some great tips on how the pros knock out their food cravings.
Feeling out of control around sweets? Is that bag of Kettle chips calling you by name? Read this before answering the call.
Research shows that virtually all women have food cravings, especially for chocolate, but also for foods rich in fat, sugar and salt. While many believe cravings stem from nutrient deficiencies, studies show that jonesing for french fries or Swedish Fish happens from habit and emotional eating, not from lacking vitamins or minerals. If that were the case, we'd all be craving nutrient-packed veggies — not chocolate and chips.
There are ways to cave to cravings without destroying your diet. Research shows that those who restrict food suffer the most from intense cravings, compared to women who don't make specific foods off-limits. The key is to indulge — in moderation — and with healthier substitutions. In addition, studies reveal that adequate sleep, avoiding alcohol, not skipping meals and exercise can all help reduce cravings.
Here are nine of my go-to healthier substitutes to crush cravings:
Chocolate is the most craved food of all. If you feel like gooey, chocolaty candy bars, brownies or chocolate chip cookies are calling your name, try these instead:
Most of us already get two to three times as much added sugars as we should, so instead of reaching for a treat that is nothing more than empty sugar calories, try these sweet-tooth tamers instead:
Potato chips provide a satisfying salty crunch but at a high price. A study from Harvard reported that a daily 150-calorie serving (just 15 chips!) equaled more than 1 1/2 pounds gained in four years.