How To Curb Your Cravings

Cravings can be overwhelming on the Kaufmann Diet. Here are a few tips to fight them.

Giving into cravings is among the most difficult things to avoid when trying to change your dietary habits. Giving into cravings, of course, should never derail you from your diet, but for many people it becomes the catalyst for forgoing your diet altogether. This is definitely something we should avoid. 

Fighting cravings takes a certain amount of will-power, no doubt. Ultimately, after a period of time on the diet, you cravings will certainly subside. Getting over the proverbial “hump”, however, can be difficult, and to that end, there are some tips we can offer. 

1. Find Kaufmann Diet substitutes for foods you miss.

Many people crave savory carbs, other people crave sweet treats. Whatever your cravings are, there are a wide variety of foods available on the Kaufmann Diet that can be prepared in such a way to help satisfy those cravings. Miss mashed potatoes? Try mashed cauliflower with garlic and butter. Miss having desert? There are many Kaufmann Diet-approved sweet treats available in our cookbooks. These are only a couple of examples, but regardless of what you crave, no doubt you can find foods to substitute on the Kaufmann Diet. Incorporate these into your diet regularly so that you do not miss many of the foods you are used to eating. 

2. Drink lots of water. 

Staying hydrated has many benefits, among them is that it can prevent you from overeating. Thirst often manifests as hunger, so if you are feeling hungry, try drinking a glass of water before you eat anything. Staying hydrated will also help you stay away from sugary drinks if you crave those.  

3. Do not skip meals. 

Intermittent fasting is a popular way to structure your eating windows, but for those who are starting the Kaufmann Diet, it may be beneficial to stick to a traditional eating pattern of three meals a day. Yes, intermittent fasting has shown some benefits, and it may be a good thing to incorporate into your regimen eventually. However, if the initial cravings you experience combined with the hunger pains of fasting are too much to keep you from falling off your diet, try not skipping any meals at first. 

4. Get plenty of sleep and manage stress. 

For many people, being tired or stressed is a sure way to magnify cravings for unhealthy foods. When you are tired or stressed, your will power often is not as strong as it otherwise would be. Managing stress and getting plenty of sleep are healthy habits to cultivate on their own, but particularly when you are beginning the diet, these are important factors to manage.  

5. Plan ahead in case of emergency. 

Carry food with you that is approved for your diet for when cravings hit. These can be nuts, green apples, or plain yogurt cups––anything that is portable and easy to reach for when cravings hit. Plan your mealtimes around when you know you will be hungry. Really, there is no reason to ever be hungry on the Kaufmann Diet, because the diet only restricts certain foods, not the amount of food you can eat. Planning to eat when you know you will be hungry can be a good way to ensure you do not reach for something that’s not on your diet.