Most people are aware of the importance of following a healthy diet, yet many of us find it difficult to do so, mainly because we cannot overcome our food cravings. For some people, giving in, to these food cravings may be a one-off occurrence and they get back to their regular diets immediately. However, there are many people who are quite helpless when it comes to resisting their favorite foods and may end up consuming high quantities of unhealthy foods, even though they know that they should not.


Veering away from a specific eating program on certain occasions is not really a big deal, but steering away from it completely, or making it a regular habit to give in to eating impulses that are unhealthy, could very well be the main reason that a diet fails.

At times, people eat even when they are not really supposed to, not necessarily because they are hungry, but because they see something that looks too tempting to pass up. Giving in to these food cravings is one of the most common reasons why not all people are successful when they go on a weight loss diet.


Fortunately, there are several tips on how to stop food cravings, which can help people control their urges to a great extent.

It is not necessary that people who cheat on their diets on a regular basis have a weak will power. It probably means that either they do not have a strong motivation to follow their diet, or they do not know how to stick to it and what to do, when they are overcome by the urge to eat something. With a little bit of help, it will not be difficult for them to be able to control their cravings, which makes it easier for them to achieve the goal that their eating plan is designed for. Given below are a few simple ways how to conquer over cravings:

• Avoid staying hungry at any time, by consuming at least 5 to 6 small meals a day, instead of 2 or 3. If the stomach is full, the mind and the body are less likely to experience food cravings and even if they do, it is a lot easier to overcome them. However, it is important to ensure that the meals consumed are light and comprise of healthy food, like fruits, vegetables, cereals, grains, lean meat and low fat dairy products.

• Most cravings are triggered off by sight, thought or the smell of a certain type of food. Hence, it is best to avoid any factors that could cause such cravings to occur. In order to do this, people are asked to avoid going to fast food joints or other restaurants, especially when they are on an empty stomach.

• Contrary to what many people think, a craving will pass after a period of time. Hence, people are advised to make it a habit to wait for at least half an hour, before they decide to satisfy their cravings. In most cases, the craving passes in that much time, after which, they realize that they are not really eager to eat what they wanted to anyway.

• One of the most effective ways to get rid of food cravings is by drinking a glass or two of water. Very often, dehydration is mistaken for hunger pangs or cravings, which causes people to eat, even when they do not really need to. Even if it is indeed a hunger pang, water will fill the stomach up a bit, thereby enabling lower consumption of food.

• Some people deal with their cravings by taking just a small amount of the foods that are tempting them. However, there is a bit risk involved in this as most people tend to lose their will power completely after getting a taste of the foods that they crave for. As a result they end up overdoing it thus going against their diet plan. One way in which over-indulgence can be avoided, is by keeping a little bit of the tempting food aside and only eating it, after most of it is over.

• Studies indicate that people find it the most difficult to overcome their sweet cravings, which is why they end up eating a slice of cake or a piece of chocolate, which they really shouldn’t have. Though it may be difficult to do so, it is best for people to find substitutes for the foods that tempt them the most. For example, popping in a small piece of dark chocolate mint should be able to keep any sweet cravings at bay. Similarly, people who are used to following a diet mainly comprising burgers and pizzas can still continue to enjoy their favorite foods occasionally, by preparing them at home, using healthier ingredients like whole wheat bread, grilled lean meat, lots of vegetables and low fat or Parmesan cheese.

• Many people have the habit of eating when they are under stress and this is when they tend to reach out for “comfort foods” like ice cream, chocolate, cookies or even chips. Fortunately, there are many ways of relieving stress, which have nothing to do at all, with eating. People are advised to find other activities that can help them relax, such as meditating, practicing yoga, deep breathing, or a massage. Some people distract themselves by engaging in their hobbies, such as reading or gardening, whereas others begin to do household chores to work the tension away.

• Exercising is an excellent way to keep a person motivated towards their weight goal. Many people who want to lose weight actually manage to resist unhealthy food when they realize how hard they will have to work out, just to burn off the calories present in such food. Hence, any form of exercise, like walking, jogging, running, swimming, weight training and so on, can help eliminate food cravings, or at least overcome them to a great extent.

The tips on how to stop food cravings given below are quite safe if they are used correctly. However, it is best to consult a doctor and get an approval, before trying out any of them as certain health factors too need to be kept in mind.