Fighting Temptation
The introduction of social distancing brought with it many worries, from how to deliver our jobs from home, becoming teachers to our children and how we spend almost 24 hours a day within the same four walls. What many of us didn’t originally consider as we walk past the fridge for the 5th time today and reach inside for that left over Celebration from Christmas, is the temptations that surround us.
Whether your vice is caffeine or carbs it has become a lot easier to add an extra cup of coffee or packet of crisps to your daily routine, and whilst the odd treat is fine, having snacks regularly could see an increase in sugar, fat and caffeine that could have a long term health effects.
Follow the advice below to help you curb your cravings!
Recognise
It is important to understand why you are craving that treat:
- Stress
- Higher levels of boredom or anxiety
- Daytime sleeping
- Current restrictive diet
- Sleep deprivation
Our emotions and lifestyle can make cravings harder to resist therefore it is important to recognise what is driving your current craving, and that often, that feeling or emotion is temporary, as is the fix of food and drink.
Reduce
There are a number of ways you can help reduce the level of cravings you are having:
- Drink more water
- Eat meals at regular times
- Get moving
- Make sure you eat enough at meal times
- Distraction techniques such as a quiz or Sudoku
Cravings are often linked to positive memories, so when trying to reduce cravings ensure to think happy thought to help your memory associate it as constructive.
Replace
If you still feel the need for a treat, make sure you swap some for healthy alternatives:
- Caffeine free coffee
- Rick cakes with low fat cheese spread
- Apple and peanut butter
- Homemade popcorn
- Sugar free jelly