Any idea on how to avoid junk food?

Nuttymama
Nuttymama Posts: 6 Member
edited October 7 in Health and Weight Loss
I can't seem to find the will power to avoid junk food when its in my house! I don't want it and I know it's silly to let something have such power over me...I just want to be able to walk by it and blow it off....Any ideas? Thanks

Replies

  • felice03
    felice03 Posts: 2,644 Member
    dont buy it...
  • HMonsterX
    HMonsterX Posts: 3,000 Member
    Have it but in smaller doses. Fun size treat instead of full size ones works wonders for me.
  • WoWmamaErin
    WoWmamaErin Posts: 148 Member
    If it ends up in the house I tuck it away out of sight and try not to think about it and instruct the hubs to 'take care of it'. I'm usually good at not buying it, but it is in the same aisle at the grocery store as my Crystal Light so that kinda sucks! I try not to even look at it!
  • mstormth
    mstormth Posts: 119 Member
    Hi,
    We swtiched and bought 100 calorie snacks - they are not the greatest but its the only snack that I allow into the house -- it helps a lot.

    I now buy a lot more muchie sized fruits and veggies - forces me to not munch or munch with more control.

    Don't even go down the snack aisle at the grocery store - it has actually become less costly to shop due to it.
  • purpletrillium
    purpletrillium Posts: 124
    Salsa is low in calories. Try it with low fat multigrain chips, and get the other stuff out of the house.
  • ibpammy
    ibpammy Posts: 4 Member
    I'm having the same problem. Wish I could just not buy junk food, but there are others in my house that object. My plan tonight is to hang in my bedroom, so I won't be tempted to snack.
  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    dont buy it...

    Buy fruits and veggies and put them front and center. I keep the Christmas candy gifts out of sight, and the fruit basket in the middle of the kitchen.
  • Allyson1985
    Allyson1985 Posts: 148
    Just because I'm blunt ...

    Don't buy it.
  • amycal
    amycal Posts: 646 Member
    dont buy it...

    Buy fruits and veggies and put them front and center. I keep the Christmas candy gifts out of sight, and the fruit basket in the middle of the kitchen.

    Yep! Make sure you have plenty of healthy alternatives. I almost always bring a snack to work with me: raw almonds or other nuts, fruit, or leftovers so I am not tempted to indulge in something not so good. Also drinking hot green tea can help me resist sweets when I crave them.
  • dlyeates
    dlyeates Posts: 875 Member
    Either A) Don't buy it (can't eat what's not there) or B) after you buy it separate it into single serve baggies and then you can eat 1 whole baggie of snack (and then log it)!!
  • Mdtrent2012
    Mdtrent2012 Posts: 7
    100 calorie packs! They have some really good ones, my favorite are the oreos! They also have low calorie Ice cream, But I have not tried any, so I couldn't say how those are. But don't starve yourself of your favorite treats! Just eat them in moderation : )
  • karnypops
    karnypops Posts: 21 Member
    I never buy chocolate or crisps for the house just healthy foods, that way if I want something I know I'd have to go all the way to the shops to buy it which means you just end up having the healthy option instead. Also I have highlights hot chocolate in the house so if I ever feel like something sweet I just have that, it satisfy's the craving and is only 40 cals :)
  • dfborders
    dfborders Posts: 474 Member
    I try not to buy it - but when I do buy it for my Hubby and son I don't eat it. Once I start - I can't stop - even if I portion it out - I will just eat 3 or 4 of the portioned baggies :blushing: . If I am not strict with myself I will go overboard.
  • keeponkickin
    keeponkickin Posts: 1,520 Member
    dont buy it...

    This!
  • Barneystinson
    Barneystinson Posts: 1,357 Member
    dont buy it...

    This!

    Yep, this is about the only thing that works.
  • vanillasugar
    vanillasugar Posts: 246 Member
    It's much easier to just not buy it, true. But when you share the household with others (hubby, teenagers, etc.) it's more challenging. Try finding out what kinds of "junk" food the others like that YOU won't be tempted by. When my teenagers were still home, I would buy the chips that they liked that I didn't or snacks they liked but I didn't. I love Doritos, as do they. But they also like funions - ew, no thanks. So I would buy the funions that didn't even tempt me. They were happy, I was happy.
  • MaggieINC
    MaggieINC Posts: 16
    I buy things my daughter likes and I know I won't eat. That way she gets her junk food and I'm not tempted.
  • em9371
    em9371 Posts: 1,047 Member
    i dont buy it, its much easier to resist in the supermarket than it is in my house for some reason!! once its in my house it calls to me :laugh:
  • run5230
    run5230 Posts: 11
    I am new to My Fitness Pal and saw this suggestion - I love it! What a great idea. I have a terrible habit of snacking on whatever is handy - especially if it's chocolate or say a gummy bear LOL - but Salsa I love! :happy:
  • MrsLong1980
    MrsLong1980 Posts: 181 Member
    Just don't buy it - no-one in the house needs it either so it doesn't need to be there! If others complain (husbands, wives, children, etc.) tough - you're doing them a favour and they should be supporting you!
  • amuhlou
    amuhlou Posts: 693 Member
    Either A) Don't buy it (can't eat what's not there) or B) after you buy it separate it into single serve baggies and then you can eat 1 whole baggie of snack (and then log it)!!

    This would be my advice too for the most part. Get a food scale to weigh out portions if need be. If you can start to work in healthier options though, you eventually won't have as much of a taste for the really junky stuff.

    You may be able to also do some swaps if you analyze what you like about certain 'junk' foods. For example, if you like potato chips because they're crunchy, maybe there's a lower fat, baked version that could cut calories and still satisfy your desire for crunch. If you're really adventurous, try making your own kale chips (http://allrecipes.com/recipe/baked-kale-chips/)

    Salsa can be another awesome swap - in one comparison I did, 2TBSP of salsa had 75% fewer calories than French Onion chip dip (not to mention 0g fat vs 5g).

    I think having any food be totally 'off limits' is what makes people fail at diets. I enjoy food too much. I'd rather just use those not-so-good foods as a 'treat' that I plan for in advance. If I want my snackwell's cookie in the evening, I need to make sure I stick to my plan throughout the day and get my workout in. You CAN eat the foods you want occasionally, if you're willing to make the numbers work elsewhere.
  • jsjaclark
    jsjaclark Posts: 303
    I just avoid buying any. I do most of the grocery shopping so it is easy not to buy. If my husband or kids want "junk" I usually tell them they have to go to the store. They generally don't want to do that - they didn't want the junk that badly.
  • yankeedownsouth
    yankeedownsouth Posts: 717 Member
    It's much easier to just not buy it, true. But when you share the household with others (hubby, teenagers, etc.) it's more challenging. Try finding out what kinds of "junk" food the others like that YOU won't be tempted by. When my teenagers were still home, I would buy the chips that they liked that I didn't or snacks they liked but I didn't. I love Doritos, as do they. But they also like funions - ew, no thanks. So I would buy the funions that didn't even tempt me. They were happy, I was happy.

    This is exactly what I do, and it works for me!
  • JennW130
    JennW130 Posts: 460 Member
    Just don't buy it.
  • feellikeamillion
    feellikeamillion Posts: 14
    Don't buy it. I have no junk food in my house, and if someone does buy it, I throw it out. They learn very quickly.
  • TeresaC79
    TeresaC79 Posts: 316 Member
    We just don't buy it. We've always been adamant about the way we buy food...natural, healthy, and all the ingredients are words I can pronounce and know what they are. Simple things "peanuts, salt, water" etc....

    Replace those junky foods with snack-ish alternatives. We love Nut Thins with Hummus. Carrots in hummus are one of my kids' favorites.

    My kids have never had a potato chip. Ever.

    I was hyper aware of the really bad choices my mom made for us when I was kid, so I was super sure to introduce my kids to healthy options from the onset.

    If you are serious about changing your eating habits, you'll probably need to make steps to changing your families culture as well. Stop buying the crap and no kid, teen or not, is going to starve themselves.

    I recently saw a blog post or article where a mom stopped buying crap. Her teen kids wanted a snack. She took up a big plate of fruits and veggies. They complained and she just left and said "If you change your mind." The refused to eat it at first, but when she came back up an hour later, it was all gone.

    I firmly believe that you can make a cultural change in your family when it comes to food if you really want it.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    I can't seem to find the will power to avoid junk food when its in my house! I don't want it and I know it's silly to let something have such power over me...I just want to be able to walk by it and blow it off....Any ideas? Thanks

    1. Don't buy it.

    2. If you end up having it in the house somehow, then measure out 1 serving and stick to just that. Eat it slowly and enjoy it. Budget it into your calories.
  • badgerbadger1
    badgerbadger1 Posts: 954 Member
    I stopped buying it for anyone in the house. Everyone is retraining to healthy eating along with me. My daughter is enjoying going to the bulk food store and exploring new snacks in the healthier aisles. She's really skinny so I allow her more wiggle room for her growing needs. In the last week she has discovered salted broadbeans, sweet cajun trailmix, dry roasted almonds, cinnamon apple chips, flavored soy beans, dried strawberries, and loves organic carrots. If she can convert, anyone can because this girl loves her junk food from the corner store.
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    You simply just don't buy it, if it must be purchased than the other person keeps it under lock and key. Or find acceptable, healthier, alternatives. Honestly we eat rice cakes and fruit. There are some things that I just can't give up in it's entirety, like chocolate. I also found that by not having items in my house for a long time (like tater tots) when they are in the house they have less of a pull on me (that bag of tater tots has been in there for better than a week, which is unheard of in my house). Detox your house, and then slowly add things back, and get some control over yourself.
  • KaySera
    KaySera Posts: 45 Member
    I can't seem to find the will power to avoid junk food when its in my house! I don't want it and I know it's silly to let something have such power over me...I just want to be able to walk by it and blow it off....Any ideas? Thanks

    1. Don't buy it.

    2. If you end up having it in the house somehow, then measure out 1 serving and stick to just that. Eat it slowly and enjoy it. Budget it into your calories.

    ^^^^THIS^^^^ On the very rare occasion I buy "junk" food, I separate it, put a portion into a baggie and FREEZE them. By the time its defrosted, you'll probably have forgotten you wanted it in the first place. There they are......at the back of the bottom freezer drawer (beside my frozen credit cards!)
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