I “Want” To Eat Healthy…

But my cravings tell me different!

No secret that junk food is addictive. What is even more annoying is that messes with us! It can even “plant” seeds of resentment towards anyone who eats healthy or encourages us to do so. I will absolutely admit that when I lived with a dear friend who at healthy while I ate my fast unhealthy meals… I would become aware that I wasn’t helping myself, get irritated about it, and then take the misplaced anger out on her in snippy remarks or harbored judgment. PLUS! Every time I would try to eat healthier I felt like I was punishing myself.

The addiction is real. I am not crazy and neither are you. First place to look for proof is the over-whelming amount of scientific research that is everywhere. Including a study in Sweden showing that the hormone ghrelin, which activates the brain’s REWARDS SYSTEM and increases appetite, reacts similarly to sugar and alcohol. This makes junk food a security blanket and a source of validation. Try to take that away, things can get ugly and you know the rest.

The good news is you can break the cycle. Once upon a time I could eat half a package of Oreos in one sitting and now, because I have been eating clean for so long, it would make me physically sick. After about 2 years of eating healthy my digestive system isn’t able to handle that amount of chemicals. It does take time, patience and will-power but if I can do it (remembering I could shoot through a box of mac&cheese with extra butter in one meal), so can you.

Tips to get you started and going:

1. Get the junk out of the house: Simple logic – if it’s not there – you won’t eat it. If you have some with a friend at there house, dump the leftovers when you leave. Provide yourself with healthy snacks for mindless eating such as strawberries – cherries – carrots – grapes.

2. Go for the 80% 20% rule: Eat clean during the week and then have a treat day 🙂 It makes the week easier to handle and the treat that much sweeter. Have a day when you go to Starbucks for a cookie and a latte (remember – keep it out of the house).

3. Make a comforting ritual out of eating healthy:Pay attention to your nightly rituals and sub in healthy items. For instance I used to have a mug of hot vanilla milk & ice cream before bed – I switched over to homemade healthy popcorn & tea. After a while I loved just having the tea and the popcorn became a treat.

4. Carry healthy snacks: Avoid “needing” the snack machine or the drive-thru and carry around something like an apple and raw nuts. The first noticeable perk about this one is it saves you $$$! MESSAGE ME if you want tasty healthy snack ideas.

5. Discover new yummies!: If the classic fruits and veggies are too boring then spend some time in the produce section and discover new ones. Ever had a wrinkly Gold Nugget Tangerine? OH – MY – WORD! Or a Custard Apple?

6. Protect the emotional times: Let’s not kid ourselves something emotional may happen and the classic “I NEED junk food” feeling will show up. So try eating a bunch of healthy stuff first to get you full and then by the time the junk food shows comes out you can only fit a tiny bit more. Not the most fantastic alternative portion-wise… but it does protect you from allowing junk food to be the “cure-all”. Then after a while you won’t need it.