1. Considering what your
body needs – All cravings are essential because they will give you
clues on what you are feeling and what is happening in your body
metabolically and biochemically. There are signs that your body is in
need of more of a particular nutrients, like for example, a strong taste
for red meat means that you have low iron.
2. Looking for a
distraction – Before you start to nibble on anything that your mind
wants, take several minutes to drink one glass of water and walk around
the block. These 2 steps will be helpful because they are separating you
from your cravings. That separation will give you the space and time
for reflecting upon the healthy diet that you want to maintain and about
how eating this food will take you off-course from that plan. You can
also sip something warm such as herbal tea.
3. Asking whether you
are hungry – It could be simple but people are commonly neglecting to
identify their hunger level before they even start to nosh. Determining
that there could be no actual hunger is the first step to not give in to
each craving. Always remember that you could be starving and you have
to eat a full meal. If that is the case, try to consume a healthy dish
and reassess your desire or craving.
4. Paying attention to what
you are craving – Your desire for particular kinds of fare may also be a
warning sign that you have health issue that must be addressed. If you
are consistently craving for starchy foods and sweets, this means that
your body is not normally metabolizing carbs. It means that your body
cannot move glucose into your cells for energy, and thus, you end up
having a feeling of deprivation and desire to eat more carbohydrates.
5.
Cutting yourself a break, but a little one – If you have assessed your
hunger, and you waited but cannot kick your craving, it is time to give
you but in small doses. Try to eat only ¼ of the portion size that you
really want, and put the rest away and distract yourself for fifteen
minutes. See how you would feel when that time passed.
If you have followed these tips and you still feel compelled to devour particular foods, you should consult your doctor.