Curb the Cravings

Enjoying a healthy diet can help you get ready for summer

Temptation is all around—especially during the winter months when you’re stuck indoors, with nothing to do but reach for junk food and hope for warmer weather.

But the real dose of reality sets in when spring arrives and you’re forced to shed your sweater and warm-up pants, only to reveal a body you may not recognize due to months of overindulging. Fear not: These simple tips, along with some good old-fashioned gumption, will have you swimsuit-ready in no time!

What Causes Cravings?

First, take comfort in knowing that many cravings don’t just come out of the blue; often, they are signs that your body may need more energy (i.e. fat and carbohydrates). While the natural response might be to reach for a bag of potato chips,you can train your body to grab a healthy snack instead. When you snack on healthy foods like fruits and nuts, you’ll get the same amount of energy—minus the fat.

Trim that Waistline

Let’s face it: Celery sticks and apple slices may not compare to cookies and chips, but with a few slight alterations, this ‘rabbit food’ will seem—and even taste—like a yummy treat. Add some peanut butter to celery sticks or sprinkle cinnamon on apple slices and voilà!—healthy snacks that taste good, too! Although there is no perfect plan that will help you shed pounds overnight, there are certain foods you can incorporate into your diet that will not only leave your body feeling satisfied, but contain far less calories and fat as well.

Reach for This

Okay, now you know—just reach for the healthy stuff. But how many times have you heard that before? Here are a few more helpful tips that will put you on the right track:

• Stick to pre-proportioned snacks. In other words, if you bring one apple and a pack of crackers with you to the office, you will be able to keep track of how much you’ve eaten (and also prevent any unnecessary trips to the vending machine).
• Choose snack foods that require a little bit of work, like shelled peanuts or edamame (soybeans).

Learn to Yearn for Natural Foods

It’s unavoidable: What you eat affects how you look and feel. So the old adage, ‘you are what you eat,’ is true on many levels. Remember that certain foods contain certain properties that will not only boost energy levels, but also help you shed extra pounds. If you eat a well-balanced diet of vegetables, fruit, whole grains and beans, you’ll begin to see a big difference in your body... and your moods.