Cheating With Food

I feel cheated by my cheat meal. I was three fourths of the way through the chip when I knew I had a serious problem. My perfectly portioned treat had turned into a rabbit hole of binging on Lay’s Sour Cream and Onion chips. I kept going back for another handful after telling myself that this was the last one (and apparently that prior handful did not seem to deter that convection). After a few of these I thought why not finish off the bag since I already eaten enough to sabotage all my healthy eating. Finally, I was able to see reason and did not finish it off! That means I have some self-control, right? Right? But in all seriousness, foods that have little nutritional value are starving us, yet making us fat. We can consume so much without getting the nutrition that we need to feel full.

This week I learned the hard way that “trigger” foods sometimes are best just avoided altogether. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition documented the prevalence of food addiction in US women using the Yale Food Addiction Scale. 8% of women 45-65 met the criteria for food addiction and only 3% in women over 62. This growing trend is a bit alarming when considering how the food industry manipulates food’s “taste” to make it even more desirous. Research does not support the old adage for “everything in moderation” for everyone or for every food.

Shakeology has really helped me curb the cravings (and 81% people they surveyed agree). What nutritional foods help curb your cravings?