By Devon O’Brien
AmesEats Flavors writer
Everyone has done it. You start a new diet and all you can think about is the food you are not supposed to be eating. Well, it’s time to kick those cravings to the curb and find some healthier solutions to your diet issues.
The best thing to do when you have a killer craving is to just go for it. You are more likely to pig out on many different snacks if you don’t just eat what you wanted in the first place. So, by just eating a small, controlled portion of what you want, you will end up consuming less in the end. However, if a healthier substitute will curb that craving without a pantry raid then that should be your first choice.
When all you want is some salty and crunch you almost always go for the greasy bag of chips, but why not try something lower in fat and calories, like pretzels, or even better whole-wheat pretzels. They might not provide for as many of your nutrient needs as say a variety of raw vegetables would, but if you eat just a serving size, you won’t be doing any harm.
Before you reach for some sweet gooey candy or fruit snacks, think of things that are just like them but have more health benefits like dried fruit. Dried fruit is sweet and chewy just like those gummy candies you normal eat but they have a lot more vitamins, and a lot less added sugar. This is important since sugar is what you want to stay away from.
Chocolate, the one food that is almost impossible to deny, may actually be okay for you. The cocoa in chocolate contains a lot of antioxidants that can actually be good for your health. That being said, sometimes your craving isn’t just psychological, it is your body actually wanting the nutrients in that food. However it’s only really worth it if you are eating a chocolate with 70 percent or more cocoa in it. So stick with dark chocolate instead of a candy bar, which has a lot of added milk fat and sugar. Limit yourself to one ounce a day, which won’t be hard considering the richness of dark chocolate.
Before trying any of these tips, ask yourself: are you hungry, or are you bored? Before reaching for the snack of your choice try calling a friend, going for a walk, folding your laundry or even just drinking a glass of water. While starting any chore or project you might forget all about the food you couldn’t stop thinking about and realize you really weren’t hungry at all.
