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How to Control the Urge to Splurge

I confess: I'm completely addicted to Pringles. My determinationweakens every time I think about munching into one, hearing thecrunch, and getting that first taste of its yummy flavor. Pureheaven. Although you don't flip over chips, probably there'sanother food that lures you into the refrigerator or the pantrycabinet. According to one study, 97% of women (c...

ompared to 68%of men) experience cravings on food.How do you control these urges that drag you in an intoxicatedshape away from your diet plan and down into the swirling vortexof pleasure? I researched on the topic to give you expert adviceon how to enjoy that art called eating without turning in into afeeding frenzy. Read on - and never again feel guilty abouteating a chocolate chip cookie.Take Charge of Your Eating Habits.Try to control the number of food cravings you experience. Itappears to be impossible for humans like us, but if you psycheyourself and develop fewer cravings, then slowly you'll submitto fewer cravings.According to one study of nearly 500 women, researchers foundthat women who received a daily 1, 200 milligram calciumsupplement reduced their number of premenstrual food cravings by54%. To reach the same result by getting the needed calciumintake fr...

...om food, rely on skim milk and yogurt. Sounds a bitdifficult for all lactose intolerant? Try some calcium-fortifiedfoods or juices like cheese and calcium-filled orange juices.If you don't feel you can get sufficient calcium from food, makeup the difference using a supplement of calcium carbonate orcalcium citrate.How about something relaxing? When you're anxious, the bodyproduces more of the hormone cortisol, which may increase theamount of carbohydrates you want to eat. Sweets or carbohydratestemporarily increase our levels of serotonin, making us feelcalm and relaxed.Thus, one way of helping curb your sweet tooth, rent somevideos, text your funniest friends, or schedule a spa weekend.Why not have a bit of chocolate once in a while? When you beginincluding small amounts of these forbidden foods into your diet,a funny thing happens: You don't crave them anymore.Distinguish specific cravings from hunger. Suppose you drive bya fast food outlet and all of a sudden, you develop a deepcraving for French fries. Rather than rushing down the drivethru section, reassess your urge. Turn on your favorite musicand switch your attention away from the fries idea. Suppose, onthe other hand, you feel the need to satisfy not the urge butyour hunger, select an apple pie or salad as a substitute.Cut Hundreds of Calories.Sure you can cut on hundreds of calories on what you eat everyday! How? By making the appropriate choices on replacinghigh-calorie to low-calorie foods, such as cheese, creams, wholemilk, butter, etc. Here are easy tricks to keep you cooking andeating minus the calories.* When cooking, use nonstick pan to eliminate the use of butterand/or oil. * Remove the fat from the meat. * Remove the skin ofchicken before serving. * Use butter-flavored seasoning onvegetables instead of sprinkling butter. * For casseroles,desserts and sauces, use evaporated skim milk (12 cal./tbsp.)instead of heavy cream (51 cal./tbsp.) * Cook stews and othercasseroles ahead of time. Refrigerate. Remove congealed fatbefore serving. * Choose real orange (71 cal.) over an orangejuice (90 cal./6 oz). * For snacks, low-calorie fruits(cucumbers, asparagus, carrots, apples, pickles) are goodreplacements for crackers and breads. * Use bottled chocolateextract for milk shakes instead of sweetened cocoa. * Use twoegg whites (34 cal.) for cakes instead of one egg (82 cal.). *Choose diet margarine (50 cal.) instead of the regular margarine(100 cal.). * Choose cereals with the least calories then addfresh fruits to be more nutritious. * In parties, goodsubstitutes for snacks are carrot strips, pickle slices, and rawmushroom caps. * Drip away fats by cooking hamburgers on therack. * Avoid chips with dips.Staying in healthy shape depends on the right attitude. So howstrong is your will power to control the urge?...