Battling cravings for your favorite, but unhealthy treats? Check out some of my tried and true ways of kicking those cravings to the curb! Image courtesy of Stuart Miles and FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

The worst part of getting back on track after Christmas is the cravings. It takes about 2-3 days for the carb and sugar cravings to go away. I’ve tried different things, but these six little handy tricks tend to help me keep the cravings at bay.

6. Eat (Almost) Like a Hobbit — Hobbits subsist on breakfast, 2nd breakfast, elevenses, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner and supper.  I’m not advocating 7 meals, but eating more often during the day is a craving killer.  Five times a day is a good goal. I eat every 3-5 hours – breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner. If I miss a meal, I go astray.  Easily.

5. Tigers May Hate Cinnamon, But You Shouldn’t — Cinnamon normalizes blood sugar levels and results in reducing cravings for the sweeter things in life.  Cinnamon is your friend if you want to prevent insulin spikes.

4. Find a Distraction – Sometimes the cravings hit because I’m bored. I have a few go to activities — jigsaw puzzles, knitting and walking — that take my mind off of any delicious morsel.

3. Chamomile Tea Is Better Than Bacon (at fighting cravings) — Not only is chamomile great at treating cramps, anxiety and insomnia, but a cup after dinner does the trick in reducing cravings for sweets. I always drink when visiting Starbucks!

2. Flossing Is Fun – I started brushing and flossing my teeth after lunch. Not only does sound dental hygiene keep the dentist at bay, but also it eliminates any desire for sweets or salty foods. I mean, name for me food that pairs well with toothpaste.

1. Make It Count! — If you feel deprived you will binge and not be very happy with yourself after. My philosophy is, if I really want chocolate, then I better not waste my time on some crappy, run of the mill candy bar. Nope. I’d rather splurge on a dark chocolate truffle, but just one.  It’s so rich and decadent I can only handle one, but it’s enough to satisfy the itch.

How do you fight your cravings?

H/T to blogger Leanne Nalani who posted a piece about striking a balance between healthy foods and cravings. I suggested a few tricks I use in the comments and then realized it would make a good expanded post on my blog.