KICKING A JUNK FOOD HABIT

Junk food is one of the main things many dieters struggle against in their efforts to lose weight, and as tempting as they might sound, “all or nothing” diets don’t work: You may feel like you never want to eat fast food again now, but chances are you will crave it at some point in the future. Instead of denying it to yourself entirely and then being disappointed in yourself when you don’t live up to your own expectations, use these three strategies to control your fast-food cravings.

1. Do not eat junk food alone. Try to pair “junk food” snack items with healthier foods containing lots of fiber, like vegetables, that will fill you up and make you less likely to over-indulge. Also try finding healthy alternatives for unhealthy snack foods – the more healthy foods you find that you actually enjoy eating, the more likely you are to maintain a healthy diet.

2. Clear your palate after a meal – you may be surprised at how much this can actually help you conquer cravings. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to simply drink a glass of water. You can also brush your teeth or drink tea or coffee. Just getting rid of the taste in your mouth can make it less likely that you will continue to crave food after a meal – this is a great way to do away with late-night snack habits.

3. Be mindful about your eating habits: Most of us do not really take the time to pay attention to the food we are eating, but if you make a conscious effort to be aware of what you are eating, you may find that it will help you beat cravings and take a more practical, less emotional approach to eating.

If you currently have a junk food habit – and most of us do – try to take advantage of these tips to take back control over your eating habits.