Practical Ways To Cut Down On Unhealthy Foods
The struggle is real! You know the harmful effects of those unhealthy drinks, junk food, and sweets on your body. You’ve promised yourself you’re going to put a stop to them. You’ve tried several times over, but each time, you end up running back to the comfort of unhealthy food. What are you doing wrong, you wonder. How can you take control of your health and cut down your dependence on junk and unhealthy food? If you’re reading this, you’re not alone, and there’s hope. Here are some tips you can use.
- Replace your unhealthy snacks
No need to give up on snacks entirely; all you have to do is replace them. You’re probably thinking, you’ve tried that already. However, the issue is with your cravings. So, instead of going for healthy snacks you don’t like, choose ones that can suppress your cravings for unhealthy snacks. It’s pretty simple: if you aren’t craving it, you won’t go for it. For example, if you’re craving a pack of sweets, you can go for a bowl of fruits as it would give you the sweetness you crave- but just healthier. You can also try easy air fryer sweet potatoes in replacement of an unhealthy pack of crisps.
- Plan ahead
Most people opt for junk food because they have no idea of what to eat when they’re hungry, and getting some unhealthy take-out or putting junk food together is much easier. It is vital to plan your meals. An effective way to handle your cravings is to plan your meals ahead of time. The reasons for this follow the same principle for replacing unhealthy snacks. If you prepare healthy and filling meals at home, you’ll drastically reduce your cravings to buy junk food.
According to experts, you can control your susceptibility to food cue reactivity by planning your meals. The term “food cue reactivity is influenced by food smells, conversations, and advertisements that ignite or drive impulse buying. And speaking of impulse buying, the following point is essential.
- Identifying your triggers
Even with your best efforts, some meals always seem to send your taste buds on overdrive. Paying attention to meals that whet your appetite is important, especially when eating unhealthy foods. Triggers aren’t only about the smell or sight of specific foods, as there can also be emotional triggers. For example, some people love to embrace “comfort food” and overindulge when they feel stressed, depressed, or anxious. That means checking the emotional side of your eating habit is also crucial.
- Base your meals around protein
Foods rich in protein can make you feel a lot fuller for longer periods. And this can significantly reduce your cravings for unhealthy snacks and junk foods in between meals. Adding foods like chicken, fish, beans, lean meat, eggs, nuts, legumes, etc., can help.
And if you love sugary snacks, you can opt for fruits instead. Fruits have sugar, but they are also loaded with essential vitamins, antioxidants, water, and fiber. Moreover, replacing your sugary snacks with fruits can help balance out your blood sugar and prevent any “sugar crash.”