Replacement for cravings
teacher205
Posts: 9
Hi all,
I've been really trying to eat healthy recently but my down fall is my cravings. I am a special needs teacher (not by choice) and I find the days really stressful. If I can't get my hands on something sweet at school I'll keep craving it and craving it until I get something. Does anyone have any healthy substitutes for chocolate and other sweet things, something that gives that lovely happy feeling??
Thanks
I've been really trying to eat healthy recently but my down fall is my cravings. I am a special needs teacher (not by choice) and I find the days really stressful. If I can't get my hands on something sweet at school I'll keep craving it and craving it until I get something. Does anyone have any healthy substitutes for chocolate and other sweet things, something that gives that lovely happy feeling??
Thanks
0
Replies
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Try a piece of fruit, or a meal with regular food.
The sugar makes you crave more sweets.0 -
I like the skinny cow chocolate bars or the weight watchers chocolates. For me the key is not depriving myself but watching portions. You can still have your chocolate just be smart about it=)0
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high sugar foods lead your brain to think it is starving when the blood sugar level drops back down to normal starting the craving cycle again, try washing your system of excess sugar after eating sweet things with extra water, also try to reduce the amount of refined sugar in your diet generally by replacing with low GI foods a good source of information is the diabetes websites they will show you loads of foods that release their sugar slowly in a way that can avoid that crash 'I NEED some sugar now' feeling.
In the mean time bulb fennel is a great sweet healthy snack, adding cinnamon to coffee rather than sugar, others have said about fruit but that can be misleading also as it contains fructose which makes the body store fat and water if too much is consumed.
I know this because I also have a very sweet tooth, but have just been diagnosed as pre-diabetic so have been doing a bit of research.0 -
1. Very dark chocolate. Same calories as milk but the flavour is so strong you only need a very small amount to get your choc hit.
2. (Don't laugh) Bovril. Best comfort drink ever invented. I stopped eating all sweet stuff 6-7 weeks ago and Bovril was great for tiding me over the first couple of weeks. It's great to have on a miserable day.0 -
Hi all,
I've been really trying to eat healthy recently but my down fall is my cravings. I am a special needs teacher (not by choice) and I find the days really stressful. If I can't get my hands on something sweet at school I'll keep craving it and craving it until I get something. Does anyone have any healthy substitutes for chocolate and other sweet things, something that gives that lovely happy feeling??
Thanks
Can I first start by saying that you should not be looking for an option in food that gives you that "lovely happy feeling." Our dependency for emotional comfort from food is generally how we wind up here in the first place (for some people that is). If you are looking to get an energy boost, try lunchtime yoga to destress or go for a walk or look at photos of puppies (no lie-proven to boost your mood levels) Something that gives you a natural high as opposed to food. I used to be highly susceptible to sweets cravings and it was a huge downfall to me but once I carefully balanced my diet ( carbs v fat v protein - within my desired calorie range) I found that my cravings slowly started going away.
That's not to say that they no longer exist but now I can manage them better. I also found that making a balanced lunch ( Ex. 1/2 cup quinoa, 1.5 cup green beans, 1 peice chicken - vegetarian kind for me - and I start with a soup or small salad and Annie's lite goddess dressing is simply amazing) and then planned to have a snack 2 hours later that was high protein.(cottage cheese,hummus, tuna with salsa and crackers) I no longer needed the afternoon sugar. In all honesty, it was hard at first but packing my entire days food the night before and not allowing myself to bring money to work to purchase extras gave me the ability to control what I ate and the rest took care of itself. If you must have chocolate, try dark chocolate. I hated dark chocolate for the most part but I found I can eat (and enjoy) dark chocolate with 60-73% cacao. Its better for you and has been known to reduce cravings. Fruit is also good with some chocolate PB2 or a small drizzle of caramel or fruit dip. My grocery store sells a tub of cottage cheese that already has pineapple in it which is delish. Also, chocolate chips or mini candy bars are helpful - my only issue is self control, so I try really hard to stay away from these.
Once I balanced my diet, within 2 weeks I found it easier to control my choices and a reduction in craving but another huge thing I discovered was how great my skin was starting to look and how much better my energy levels had become. I try to save indulgences for when a craving is absolutely unbearable but I rarely find that to be an issue anymore.
Good luck and remember it takes 28 days to break a habit -work hard, expect it to take time and you'll find your way.0 -
Have the sugar, but have it with something that also contains protein or fiber so it's more filling.
Cocoa or cinamon roast almonds.
Honey roast peanuts
Wholemeal toast w/ honey (or pb mixed with maple syrup)
Chocolate protein or high fiber bar
Fruit with nuts or trail mix
This will give you the sugar, but not the sudden rise in blood glucose so you won't get the blood glucose crash that will make you crave more. Instead, it will digest slower and keep you full longer.0
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