 Delay caving to craving
A reader wrote to me recently asking for some suggestions about dealing with sugar cravings. Here are some of the ideas that I shared with her.
First, try to see if you can get past the craving. Look at the clock and tell yourself that you can have whatever it is in 20 minutes. Usually, by that time you will be involved in something else and will forget all about it.
You can have a small treat in an appropriate serving size. Plan to allow yourself this treat once or twice per week. Make sure that you know what an appropriate serving size is, such as one large or two small cookies, not half a box. If you can't be responsible with treats in your home, buy only enough for one serving at a time.
A good way to fight sweet cravings is to eat more protein. I find protein shakes helpful because they taste sweet but aren't. With vanilla shakes, you can add frozen fruit and ice, make it in the blender and it will be similar to a milkshake.
Boredom and fatigue can cause cravings, too. If you are too tired, your body craves sugar to give you energy. Make sure that you are getting plenty of sleep. If you are bored, look for things to keep you occupied, even if they seem mindless or useless. Crafts, computer games and reading are all good options. You can play solitaire with a deck of cards and a lap board. A coloring book and crayons can make a nice diversion. Michael's has nice coloring books that you can do with markers.
Try different options at different times to find out what works best for you.
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