by Marina Stein

Created on: June 02, 2009

Resisting tempting foods can be extremely difficult especially at the beginning of the quest but it is possible.You just need to remember why you want to stay away from this foods to begin with. Let's assume that the reason behind trying to avoid tempting foods is a decision to eat healthier/loose weight/become healthier. This reason is strong enough to carry you through the challenging times with a little "cheating" techniques you will find here.

*Determine which foods are tempting and get rid of them.

Everybody is different. You may be attracted to cake, and somebody else can't live without chips. Determine what foods you are drawn to and eliminate those foods from your house. If it is not there you can't eat it and the idea of getting to the store in the middle of the night sometimes kills the craving.

*Never go to the store hungry.

Old habits die hard and when you are hungry it is very easy to succumb to that little voice in your head and buy the whole cake or a carton of ice-cream. You should always have a list with you: of foods you will avoid buying.

*Don't ever say "never".

On the other hand, don't tell yourself that you will never eat that cake again. Tell yourself instead: "I will try to avoid cakes for six weeks. Then, if I want it I will eat a piece." New habits take from 30 to 60 days to develop. If you stay away from that cake for 6 weeks you may not even crave it anymore. If you still want it let yourself have it once in a while (once a month) but eat it in the coffee shop or buy just one piece. Don't feel guilty either: if you resist the desire too long you will be in the worse position because then you may end up buying and eating the whole cake!

*Set your goals and reward yourself for achieving them (without food).

Keep your reason for giving up your temptations in clear sight, set achievable goals and don't forget to reward yourself when you get there. For example, if loosing weight, with each 10 pounds lost, get yourself a new book, or CD, or massage, or a new outfit and/or pair of shoes.

*Experiment with different foods.

Don't be afraid to experiment with new food choices: you never know you may even like it. If you have a sweet tooth, for example, you might enjoy eating sweeter fruits such as papaya, mango or very ripe persimmon. If you like crunchy and salty chips you can try Daicon radish or jicama sticks with salt and red pepper.

*Drink your water.

Sometimes you think you are hungry and you are actually thirsty. Stay well hydrated with 6-8 glasses of water a day.

With a little determination and creativity you can successfully resist tempting foods and take control over your food choices.

Learn more about this author, Marina Stein.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.