How to Beat Food Cravings
Step away from the chocolate bar! Here's how to gain control over foods that are constantly beckoning you.
You Will Need
- Distractions
- Menthol cough drops or breath strips
- Self-control
Steps
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Step 1
Reduce cravings with frequent snacks
Spread your calories throughout the day. You're less likely to have food cravings if you never allow yourself to get hungry.
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Step 2
Distract yourself
Find something to distract you from the temptation for at least 15 minutes; most cravings peter out by then.
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Look something up on the computer or flip through a magazine: Studies indicate that visual distractions are effective at taking the mind off food.
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Step 3
Overpower your taste buds
Suck on a menthol cough drop or dissolve a breath strip on your tongue. Overpowering your sense of taste and smell can kill a craving.
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Step 4
Denounce the food out loud
State your intention to resist the food, repeating it at least three times. Research shows that a spoken declaration increases your willpower.
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Step 5
Allow yourself small treats
Enjoy small portions of your favorite foods on a regular basis. Eliminating them entirely will just make you crave them more.
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Step 6
Limit the damage
On the occasions you give in to a craving, try to stop after a few nibbles. The satisfaction of tasting the food decreases dramatically after the first few bites.
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Children with a gene variant present in 63 percent of people preferred sugary and fatty foods more than did kids who didn't have the variant.
