How to curb cravings
Do you find yourself munching on cookies or salty snacks later in the day? Most food cravings occur in the late afternoon or evening and nighttime snacking is often just a habit people get into. Some feel entitled to eat at the end of a hard day or they haven’t eaten enough during the day and end up ravenous.
There are a number of theories as to why cravings occur:
- A lack of something, whether a specific nutrient or total calories.
- A psychological reaction to mood or stress.
- To increase levels of ’feel good’ brain chemicals like serotonin and endorphins.
- A response to low blood sugar and inconsistent eating throughout the day.
- Poor hydration.
- A response to environment, for example: smell pizza, crave pizza.
To keep energy stable and minimize cravings, try these strategies:
Learn to distinguish between physiological hunger and psychological hunger. Ask “Am I really hungry for food?”
Eat every three to four hours throughout the day to keep energy levels stable and prevent getting overly hungry. Find great snack recipes at sportmedbc.com’s library of recipes.
Choose a healthy substitute. Instead of ice cream, try frozen yogurt. Veggies with a savoury dip or popcorn instead of chips, or dried mango or pineapple instead of candy.
Eat a wide variety of healthy foods that won’t leave your body craving for more.
Get off the low-carb bandwagon; you’ll end up craving them.
Be it chocolate cake or nachos, include a portion-wise serving of a favourite food at least once a week to prevent cravings and overindulgence.
Avoid situations that trigger cravings. If walking by a bakery on the way to work is a problem, consider an alternative route.
If chocolate is your vice, have a small piece of high-quality dark chocolate a few times a week.
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