The paleo diet is considered one of the healthiest diets on the planets. It is extremely popular among fitness fanatics who swear by its effectiveness. Unlike most other fad diets on the market, the paleo diet does not overly concern itself with calories or detoxing or even macronutrients.
The paleo diet is more about making the correct food choices. Grains, processed foods, sugar and a few other foods are not allowed in the paleo diet. This is a slightly restrictive diet. Not overly so. However, the foods that are not allowed are often very close to people’s hearts.
The elimination of sugar means that comfort foods such as ice-creams, cakes, chocolates, etc. are not allowed. Most people cannot even imagine life without indulging in these foods. Junk food is also not allowed.
It is this issue that has made so many people fall off the paleo bandwagon. They started off with good intentions but gave up when their cravings got the better of them. This article will show you a few ways to control your cravings. The methods below will help a great deal but you need to be aware, that the cravings will still be there.
The best consolation is that with time, these cravings will disappear. Your body is just used to years of poor food choices and it will take some time to change the way you eat. The best habits take time to be inculcated. Rest assured that if you stay the course, you will control your cravings and one day, they will be a thing of your past.
The best way to control cravings for sweet foods will be to have some sweet foods on standby. Really? Yes… But, these will be paleo sweet foods. There are several paleo recipes for smoothies, ice-creams and other desserts that you can find in a paleo cookbook. You may be surprised but a strong craving for chocolate may be diminished by eating a cold, slice of watermelon.
You’ll just need to find paleo substitutes for sweet foods. Keep a few on standby at all times. You never know when you may get a craving. When it hits you, just consume the substitute.
Another way to control cravings will be to remove all the food in your house that does not fit in with your paleo diet. Don’t create temptation. Having a big tub of chocolate ice-cream in the freezer is just asking for trouble. Get rid of all these potential problems. Don’t test your will power.
Bring your own cooked food to work. In the beginning, when you’re first starting a paleo diet, it will be good to avoid eating with friends. Looking at their food is going to give you cravings, unless they are also on a paleo diet. Often, people eat at restaurants or diners together and these are best avoided. It may seem anti-social in the beginning, but it’s only for about 2 or 3 months till you have conquered your cravings.
The paleo diet is not easy to adopt. It has a very steep learning curve. So, you need to be aware of the initial problems. However, once you have gotten used to it, you will wish you had started on it sooner. The best things in life require effort and the paleo diet is one of them.