Learning how to curb sweet cravings might seem an impossible challenge, but it doesn’t need to be.
In this post, I’m sharing one unusual tip to help you curb your sweet cravings. I’m pretty sure you’ll like it!
I’ve adopted this practice into my life and found it very beneficial in curbing my sweet cravings—and improving other unhealthy eating habits too.
How to Curb Your Sweet Cravings
The Mistake We Make
The mistake we often make when thinking about eating better or improving our health is our all-or-nothing thinking.
Most of us believe being healthy means being 100% ‘good’ all the time. And that we must cut sweet things out of our life to be healthy and ‘good’.
It’s no wonder we think like this. When surrounded by a Society, cultural ‘norms’ and marketing telling us extreme diets are what we need and are the only things that work. Not true!
When we stop and think about this kind of messaging—always having to be ‘good’ to be healthy—it’s crazy is it not?! And, for that matter, quite impossible as part of a long-term healthy, sustainable and enjoyable lifestyle (and, given our bodies are designed to like sweet things because they give us energy!).
We can’t expect to be 100% ‘good’. Plus, thinking in this way can end up having the opposite effect of what we intend, by increasing our sweet cravings due to the psychological stress this kind of thinking can put on us.
It’s an overwhelming way of thinking that leads to us feeling deprived and then guilty when we don’t stick to it. And, not only will you feel happier when you stop doing this, but you’re also much more likely to succeed—with research showing when you deprive yourself you’re less likely to stick with something new.
Instead, we need small hacks we’re happy to do most of the time. Small changes are so much more appealing, sustainable and enjoyable than being ‘good’ or trying to eat perfectly all the time. Plus, they’re so much better for us long-term for our mental and physical health. Because a healthy lifestyle is about balance, not restriction.
One Way to Curb Sweet Cravings
Here is one tip that’ll help you curb sweet cravings and reduce other unhealthy eating habits too. Such as binge eating after deciding you’re no longer having a certain food or over-eating after a long day.
Cut Your Treats in Half
One of the main reasons we don’t lose weight or become healthier is the belief we have to go on a diet or be ‘good’ and give up all our favourite foods. And no wonder! A life without chocolate would be a sad one in my opinion!
So, rather than completely cut out our treats, why don’t we try a different approach?
Why don’t we try eating half the amount we usually would of our favourite treats?
I love a sweet treat! After a long, yet successful day, there’s nothing better than something rewarding and sweet for pudding.
So I…
- Eat two chocolate hobnobs rather than four.
- Half my piece of carrot cake today—saving some for tomorrow.
- Share my chocolate bar with my partner Phil!
Simply halving what you usually have as a treat will positively benefit your health, and make you feel really good about yourself too. You’ll feel in control of yourself and your life.
Trick Your Mind
Deciding to have half your usual portion size of a sweet treat is a fantastic mind trick.
Because you’re not giving anything up, you don’t feel deprived. And because you’re not saying, “I can’t have cake”, your mind isn’t then constantly wanting cake! So, you’re much more likely to succeed at eating better and improving your health.
When I started making changes to improve my health and eat better, I was happy cutting my treats in half because I knew I could stick to it long-term without feeling restricted. It felt like my choice and was one of the first steps I took for myself on my health journey. So, from experience, I know it works.
This idea is about taking a more moderate long-term approach to improving your health. And, I know I know, people who eat half a chocolate bar and put the rest away are annoying, let’s be honest! But they do have more energy, happiness and self-satisfaction to show for it. Plus, some chocolate left for tomorrow 😉.
So, if you’re like me and cutting out sweet treats isn’t something you want to do, why not give this simple tip a go and see if it helps curb some of your sugar cravings?
How to Curb Sweet Cravings Bonus Tip:
Deciding to half your sweet treats is a fantastic way to help curb sweet cravings and a great first step on any health journey. But it still takes some willpower and a strong commitment from yourself.
So make it as easy as possible. For example, don’t try and eat half of your treat when it’s in front of you. Instead, give yourself half in the first place. In other words, put half of the cake or chocolate bar out, then put the rest in your cupboard before you sit down to enjoy it.
What have you got to lose by giving this a go?
Why not try halving your sweet treats just for a week initially to see how it makes you feel? Do you feel more in control? Less guilty? Happy you made a positive change in your life that doesn’t make you feel like you’re missing out? All of the above?
Imagine no longer having cravings AND having sweet treats guilt-free. It’s possible with this simple trick.
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