The deadly craving

One minute you're going about your day, minding your own business, and the next your mind is consumed by the thought of some delicious food: chocolate, ice cream, french fries, a burrito, pasta or maybe a cup cake. It takes over your mind and you feel like you won't be able to think straight again until you get your hands on whatever food you're craving. I've been there and sometimes given in - haven't we all?

Here are a few things I did to get control:

• Raid your cabinets, pull out the foods that are bad for you and give them or throw them away
• Tell yourself to wait it out 10 - 15 minutes. A lot of times cravings will pass
• Distract yourself - pick up the phone and call a friend, Facebook stalk people, put on some music and sing along, make plans for the weekend, or anything else that will actively engage your mind. Eventually, you'll stop thinking about food.
• Eat a healthy snack that has qualities of the food you are craving. For example if you want Doritos find a healthy salty food or if you're craving chocolate grab a chocolate flavored light yogurt.
• And finally, if you just can't seem to calm that craving, give in, but only A LITTLE. If you want ice cream take a BITE and the same with all other food. Most of the time just getting the satisfaction of tasting the food can finally cure the craving.

This is a good article on how to battle emotional eating: http://bit.ly/9K2sU8