Craving fried foods

Question
Is there a certain way to stop craving fried foods?  I am not overweight, but worry about health risks down the line when I am older.  
Thanks,
Erica

Answer
Hello Erica!

  Thank you for your nutrition question.  Eating meals regularly will ensure that your blood sugar stays at a fairly constant level, and ensures that your body doesn't become starved for fried foods. Regular meals high in complex carbohydrates will also help provide a continual supply of serotonin to your brain.

Have smart snacks
If you know that you have to go several hours without a meal, keep healthy snacks nearby, so that you don't jump on the first slice of pizza that catches your eye. Good snack choices include carrots, whole-wheat crackers and peanut butter, almonds, and some fruit.

Master the art of distraction
Most food cravings last no longer than 20 minutes, so if you can distract yourself for that long after your cravings hit, it will likely pass and leave you in peace. Try engaging yourself in an activity that requires intense focus -- walk your dog, write down all the knock-knock jokes you can think of, or call up a friend -- and get your mind off the craving.

Turn off the TV
Television commercials are oozing with mouth-watering images of forbidden foods, designed to get you off your butt and into the kitchen. To avoid being brainwashed during the commercials, read the paper, leave the room, or rebel against consumer culture altogether and turn the TV off.

Drink plenty of water
Water, besides being necessary for survival, can help curb hunger pangs and make you feel full, in effect, eliminating cravings. Your body needs 8-10 8-ounce glasses of H2O per day for optimal functioning, and more if you exercise.

Don't deprive yourself
Banning certain foods from your diet will only make you want them more. Rather than blacklisting certain foods from your diet, try the 90/10 diet -- eat healthy foods 90% of the time and indulge yourself 10% of the time. A diet that includes all foods in moderation is one that's likely to keep you from gorging on pizza and Twinkies at 2 a.m.


Now that you have an idea about what causes your cravings, you can learn to just say no -- sometimes. If you can just discipline yourself, then you can curb your food cravings. Figure out what's causing your cravings, and outwit your cravings until they pass, or give your body a healthy alternative to fatty food.
Of course, occasional indulging is okay; it's better to eat small serving of fried food now than to let the craving build.

For more answers to your nutrition questions check out "Ask the Nutritionists" by George Rapitis at www.authorhouse.com

-George Rapitis, Bsc. Nutritionist
www.juiceblend.com  

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