It’s that time of the year again and everybody is ready to make a fresh start; which means exercise more, go to bed earlier, drink less alcohol, and of course, eat better. These hefty goals may seem unattainable at times. A slip up here, giving into cravings there, can set off a chain reaction that makes it hard to stay on track – but these goals are not out of your control. Start this year off with a little help from our Be Well health coach, Dawn Brighid, and keep cravings at bay all year long.
Set yourself up for success with these 8 simple tips to curb cravings:
1. Get a good night’s sleep
When you don’t get enough sleep your body will crave a boost of energy. That boost is often in the form of simple sugars, so make sure you get 7-9 hours of sleep to fend off cravings.
2. Eat a balanced breakfast
Start the day off right to help curb cravings later in the day. A breakfast of fats, proteins, and complex carbs, like eggs with greens and avocado, will do the trick.
3. Dine your way through the day
So you started the day out right with breakfast, now what? Keep going! Make sure to eat a balanced lunch and dinner to keep you satiated and manage those cravings. What do I mean by “balanced”? A few things… balance your eating throughout the day and also balance each meal with lots of veggies (especially the non-starchy ones like greens), healthy fats, and good quality protein.
4. Don’t let yourself get hangry
Going back to tip #3, eat consistently throughout the day to keep blood sugar balanced and to avoid that starving feeling. Skip a meal or two and you might end up hangry…you probably know that irritable or angry feeling because you are hungry. When you reach that point, cravings will definitely kick in and take over.
5. Guzzle a glass of water
When you get cravings, stop and have a big glass of water before you indulge. Often we confuse dehydration with hunger and this simple step can help.
6. Take a pill
Not just any pill! If your cravings are for sweets, l-glutamine may help you make it through those worst hours. It helps to stabilize blood sugar and reduce your sweet cravings.
7. Eat mindfully
When you slow down and pay attention to what you eat, your body feels more satisfied. When you are satisfied, there are fewer chances for cravings. Give it a try, here are 4 Ways to Start Eating More Mindfully.
8. Break the routine
Not all cravings are about nutrients. Sometimes our cravings stem from emotions like boredom, stress, or sadness. Deconstruct your cravings when they arise to see what is really going on.
