Addicted to PROCESSED FOODS!!

it takes time to weed those things out of your diet...and ill be the first to admit that i havent completely taken them out of mine. Moderation is the key!

I'm feeling the same way... would love to see what others have to say....

and easier said than done especially if you dont live alone, but if you can do it, dont keep them in the house...that would be the only thing that would work for me lol. but with a husband who likes his junk food every once in a while, and kids, cookies and ice cream are going to be in this house at one point or another...i can control my appetite for them pretty well though.

it takes time to weed those things out of your diet...and ill be the first to admit that i havent completely taken them out of mine. Moderation is the key!

I agree!! I haven't been able to completely eliminate these foods, but I have been able to limit them.

As soon as you're done your eating your healthy dinner, brush your teeth. No matter how much you crave the junk after that, it will all taste bad if you have the toothpaste aftertaste going on. That's one of the tricks I try to use.

If you have a real problem completely eliminating them from your diet, then don't go cold turkey.....just take smaller portions......and then gradually make them smaller every time.....til you have the willpower not to eat them......it's like quitting smoking(not that I know anything about it), but a lot of people can't go off smoking cold turkey.....

Plan for a small snack later in the evening. I have a juice bar (all natural, instead of ice cream) before bed. I also allow a bowl of berries or celery stuffed with peanut butter or even some popcorn a couple hours after dinner. Then when the craving start, I remind myself that I have 'that snack' coming up...just hold out until then.

My partner has been very supportive of my lifestyle changes and does not require junk food in the house. I do have a few healthier versions of some snacks for him and the kids, but not a whole lot. They eat fruit and veggies and drink water, right along with me .

It helps!

Also a work in progress always in my house with 3 kids, while I wish they loved healthy foods like me, they don't but I've tried my best to get the "lesser evil" options, they may not still be the best, but better than the total junk. I've replaced with some healthier cereals, granola bars, baked chips etc. Like I said still not the best, but even when I give in to temptation now it doesn't totally throw off all my hard work!

I have to eat something BEFORE I walk in the door to my house or immediately cook myself a healthy meal or snack. It's one of the only ways to keep me on track, I fill up as much as I can on veggies since I love them and it takes away my craving for the junk.
I drink hot green tea or make a fruit smoothie with greek yogurt if I feel a binge coming on.

I understand your problem! Processed foods are sooo cheap compared to fresh, better, homemade, etc.... our food budget went through the roof (almost double!) when we started buying fresh produce, even after cutting back some items we usually get.

regarding the 100 calorie packs, I find it is cheaper to buy the regular package and measure the serving size myself so I reach 100 calories.

I had a huge problem with sweets in the evening. I'd make a pan of brownies after dinner almost every night and between me and the kids they'd be gone by morning. I just quit eating that stuff cold turkey...it was REALLY hard, but after about a week I didn't want them anymore. Currently I have 3 boxes of brownie mix in the pantry that have been sitting there for over a month. If I do get a craving for something sweet I have a sugar free pudding with some chocolate cool whip on top or a glass of chocolate milk.

Night time eating is my nemesis, I am like you and can eat very well throughout the day but around 7:30 about the time we are putting my daughter to bed and wrapping up for the night I just start thinking about all the goodies in my pantry. (mostly processed foods of course.) And to be honest I do not know what to do about it other then beat it. I try to buy mostly healthy but I have a 3 year old and a 35 year old (junk food husband) and I’m not going to deny them whole grain gold fishes and the occasional cookie, it is not their fault that I have a hard time not shoveling them in my mouth. I just started this yesterday and even though I had to mentally talk myself out of devouring my pantry I did it and felt great after I beat it. I made a smoothie of chobani greek yogurt (strawberry), half a frozen banana and about ½ cup of strawberries and it was delicious and sweet and completely satisfying! I just love to eat at night and I have to break the habit because I know that is what is breaking my calorie bank.

Sorry I do not have many words of wisdom but you are definitely not alone!

Amanda

So glad you posted this! That sounds exactly like me. I'm 45 now, but I was raised in a household where "dessert" was a nightly occurence. I had a treat every night, usually icecream. I also got a sweet treat after school, twinkies or devil dogs. It was also a rule in my house that we eat everything that was put on our plate. Guess what? I STILL feel it necessary to finish everything on my plate, even if I'm full.

Old habits are hard to break. The only thing I can do is just don't buy the crap, buy healthy snacks/treats and you won't be able to just grab that junk late at night. If you live with others, ask them to hide the junk food from you so you aren't tempted.

Best of luck to you!!

You are totally normal and i think we all are 'dying' for those types of food. Just don't have the m in the house, no one not kids or even husbands need them. I make my husband keep his crap at work or in the car

A huge thing that has helped me is to stick to the OUTSIDE AISLES while grocery shopping. Yes, occasionally I dip in for some crackers or pasta or whathaveyou, but really try to shop along the perimeter of the store. This has definitely helped me limit my processed foods.