Food. It’s one of those things you need to survive so you can’t avoid it completely, but with so many wonderfully tempting options that exist, it can be easy to overdo it. That is why avoiding temptation to begin with is often the key to success. How do you do that? Here are 10 tips to consider:
- Don’t let yourself get too hungry. Try to eat every 2-4 hours so that you’re not absolutely starving and willing to eat everything you can get your hands on.
- Don’t keep tempting foods within reach. If you have to go out and actually buy your favorite foods in order to eat them, you will be less likely to do it and more likely to choose healthy options that you do have on hand.
- Find healthier ways to make your most tempting foods. By giving yourself a more nutritious option, you can still eat some of your most-loved foods without doing as much damage to your waistline.
- Drink lots of water. Thirst cues are often mistaken as hunger signs, so keeping yourself hydrated will help you avoid eating food your body doesn’t really need.
- Shop the perimeter of the supermarket. You will be less tempted to buy unhealthy foods and let them into your home if you never go by them to begin with.
- Chew sugar free gum. Keep your mouth busy by chewing on some gum; make it sugar free so you protect your teeth at the same time.
- Buy single serving sizes. Usually it isn’t the food as much as the portion size that gets you in trouble which is something you can fix quite easily by buying single serving options.
- Allow yourself some treats. Telling yourself that you’re never going to eat pizza or birthday cake ever again is a fast track to binging. Instead, let yourself relax occasionally so that you satisfy your urges and cravings.
- Distract yourself. The more you focus on the foods you shouldn’t eat, the more you will want them so distract yourself by doing something else, like walking or journaling or dancing, until your temptation passes.
- Ask yourself “why.” When you are tempted to eat and know that you aren’t physically hungry, ask yourself why you want food. Generally it is emotional, which could be better dealt with by facing the emotion head-on versus trying to hide it under food.
These are just a few things you can do to help you avoid food temptation. What tips and tricks can you share with other readers? Comment below!
