Craving for Junk Food

[CHH1023]

How do you guys handle your craving for snacks and junk food? I realized it was really really hard for me to control it? It kinda kills my grocery budget too

[disneysteve]

I try to find healthy alternatives that satisfy me. I'll eat yogurt with granola or a little fruit cup or munch on some dry breakfast cereal depending on what type of item I'm in the mood for. And I do buy some snacks and junk food but try to limit the amount and definitely limit the serving size. Don't sit down on the sofa with a bag of chips. Pour a reasonable amount into a bowl and just eat those. Take 2 or 3 cookies out of the package rather than bringing the whole package to the table. Stuff like that.

Also, the usual advice applies. Buy store brands. Use coupons. Make your own from scratch.

[CHH1023]

but I love foreign chocolate though....and cheetos.....I'm not sure how to make those myself but I can definitely start baking some at home instead of buying them....because it's usually cheaper.

[kork13]

For me, the best way for me is to just not even let myself buy them. On those few times that I do, portion control just like DS said. I'm an ice cream man myself, so if I know it's there sitting in the freezer, it's almost inevitable that I'll go for it more often than I should. So I just don't get it. Sometimes I will get some ice cream, a bag of chips, or some other random bit of junk food, but just don't let it be a regular occurrence, and do it in small portions. I find a teacup works for me to suit my occasional ice cream fix. As for your foreign chocolate (which are indeed excellent), once again, just limit how often you let yourself get it (repeat with me: "I will buy only one delicious bar of chocolaty happiness once every odd week!" lol). And when you do get some, just break off a small square of it, savor it slowly, and put the rest away.

In the end, it all comes down to one thing: WILLPOWER, MAN! COME ON!

Added thought: As DS said, substitutes also work pretty well. I'm partial to grapes, carrots, small granola bars, peanuts/almonds, cinnamon applesauce, and yogurt mixed with an oatmeal packet. Much healthier, and cheaper too.

[disneysteve]

Another thing that I always find true. When I'm eating a healthy diet I don't as many cravings for junk. One thing I started doing a while ago is eating a small serving of almonds about 30-60 minutes before lunch. When I do that, I find I really don't need dessert after lunch.

As for chocolate, I started buying 72% dark from Ghirardelli in the prepacked little squares. One square is enough to satisfy meand the high cacoa chocolate really isn't bad for you.

[Sian]

will power LOL! i wish hahaha. i like 2 buy alternatives. for instance i can buy 12 ice cream cups (u know those cups u use 2 get as a kid & they came w/the wooden spoon 2 eat them) for abt $5 (plus their abt 90calories each hehehe)

it's hard. i either need 2 have it in the house or not at all. i may find a good deal such as .70 for a 2-liter coke or 1.50 for a family size bag of chips but that doesn't come around often. i only use $46.16 for groceries & personal care items each payday. once that's gone i'm out til next pay day..

good luck ya'll

[marvholly]

My system is to just buy the small single serving bags of the salties - pretzels, chips, cheetos. Also, keep them in car trunk so I have to REALLY wnt something to have to find my shoes and go get it.

I KNOW these are nuch more $$$ than the large, house brand bags but it does control my eating.

Another thing I do (much like Steve)is to keep shelled sunflower seeds on hand. They satisfy my salty wants, are reasonably health and cost $1/7 oz bag at my dollar store. for chocolate I also have the individual wrapped squares on hand. I find 1 or 2 is enough so a bag lasts quite a while.

[GREENBACK]

Running and exercise helps with my cravings. I don't want all that hard work to go to waste. I always eat better when I'm actively exercising. I love to watch sports and I do snack during those times but I try to eat unsalted peanuts or something that has a healthy benefit.

I know what you mean...it ain't easy!

[CHH1023]

yeah.....that doesn't work for me. I have a binge eating style, when I see a bag of chip I would eat the whole thing in a day or two. like..Cheetos...tortila chips with salsa.....etc.

As for chocolate, I would eat the whole bag too! muhahaha.

I guess the best way for me to just ignore them when I go grocery shopping. ugh...

[GREENBACK]

Originally Posted by CHH1023

yeah.....that doesn't work for me. I have a binge eating style, when I see a bag of chip I would eat the whole thing in a day or two. like..Cheetos...tortila chips with salsa.....etc.

As for chocolate, I would eat the whole bag too! muhahaha.

I guess the best way for me to just ignore them when I go grocery shopping. ugh...

I have a tendency to binge now and then as well. I agree, the very best way to avoid it is not to buy it. Eat before you shop as well so you're not as tempted.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by CHH1023

that doesn't work for me. I have a binge eating style, when I see a bag of chip I would eat the whole thing in a day or two

As for chocolate, I would eat the whole bag too!

That's why the single-serve packages are good. They do cost more but it creates portion control.

Of course, the other thing is to explore why you go on binges like that. As I said, when I'm sticking to a healthy diet, I don't want the junk. Or like GREENBACK said, exercising regularly helps curb those urges, too. If you aren't following a healthy diet and lifestyle, try working on that and I think you'll see your cravings for junk decrease significantly.

[CHH1023]

I guess you're right..... but foreign chocolates are just amazing.... I don't really have a healthy diet life style because I'm too lazy to cook. I usually just get bread loaf...cereals...etc.

[snshijuptr]

Make a list when you go shopping and don't include the snacks and desserts. We don't keep these things on hand so when we get a craving, we have to drive out to get them. Every couple of months we do get a craving strong enough to force us into the car and down to the grocery store, bakery, or Rite Aid. At those points, I count it as a "treat" and so it falls under eating out rather than our grocery budget.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by CHH1023

I don't really have a healthy diet life style because I'm too lazy to cook.

Bingo. I think that is what you really need to be focusing on rather than figuring out how to deal with cravings for junk food. Fix the lifestyle and you'll control or even eliminate the cravings.

[CHH1023]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Bingo. I think that is what you really need to be focusing on rather than figuring out how to deal with cravings for junk food. Fix the lifestyle and you'll control or even eliminate the cravings.

but you can only live once....I especially love the chocolate sundae from McDonald, it only cost a dollar but it taste so good. I also love the chocolate red wine imported from Poland, it taste amazing!

[GREENBACK]

Eating is similar to money management. Enjoy your "chocolate red wine" (whatever that is) but control the amount. Binge every once in a while but maintain discipline the same as you should do with your money.

[CHH1023]

Originally Posted by GREENBACK

Eating is similar to money management. Enjoy your "chocolate red wine" (whatever that is) but control the amount. Binge every once in a while but maintain discipline the same as you should do with your money.

You can purchase them from Kroger. The formal name is called "Chocovine Dutch Chocolate Fine Red Wine", it taste like chocolate milk for adult

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by CHH1023

but you can only live once....I especially love the chocolate sundae from McDonald, it only cost a dollar but it taste so good. I also love the chocolate red wine imported from Poland, it taste amazing!

I'm not saying to never have anything not so good for you. We just got back from a family Slurpee run. I love snacks as much as the next guy. I just don't eat them all the time and when I do eat them, I do my best to limit the portion size to just enough to satisfy the craving.

[cptacek]

Pecans and cheese fill me up for my snacks. Lots of protein and fats! Lost ~35 pounds so far!

A friend of mine told me "the first bite of the brownie tastes better than the other three brownies you would have eaten before" so I am trying to just enjoy that one bite I take from my DH's plate

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by cptacek

Pecans and cheese fill me up for my snacks. Lots of protein and fats! Lost ~35 pounds so far!

Almonds for me, and I've lost 20 pounds.

A friend of mine told me "the first bite of the brownie tastes better than the other three brownies you would have eaten before" so I am trying to just enjoy that one bite I take from my DH's plate

This is where the single-serve packs come into play. 100 calories worth of cookies will satisfy you just as much as 300 calories worth of cookies. One individually wrapped Ghirardelli chocolate square is all I need.