Using healthy foods to replace candy cravings

So many Americans are addicted to sweets and candy. When every holiday or tradition is celebrated with sweet tastes, it's no wonder that we find ourselves snacking on treats and high carb, high calorie foods rather than fruits, vegetables and healthy alternatives. What many people don't understand is that we crave sweets not because they taste good, but because they are high in carbohydrates.

A high carb diet It's way too easy to get hooked on the sweet stuff loaded with carbs because you feel so good while you're eating it. The problem arises 20 minutes later when your body has processed those refined products and the sugar "high" is gone. We start to feel sluggish and groggy and our mental focus is all but gone. There's hardly any protein or fiber to keep you satisfied in carbohydrate loaded foods so you keep eating until your stomach and your brain finally feel like you're full. By this time you've done so much damage that it would take you weeks of high intensity exercise and good nutrition just to combat what you consumed in one sitting.

If we attempt to manage the cravings by turning to naturally sweet foods rather than refined products like cookies and cakes to satisfy our sweet tooth we'll not only feel better, but will control our weight better and stop craving that sugary junk food.

The sedentary lifestyles of Americans have turned many of us into unhealthy specimens of human behavior. Our jobs are more often handled with the stroke of a keyboard or the push of a button rather than by picking up a shovel or having to walk down the hall to talk to a coworker. Our technology laden lifestyles have decreased not only our activity during the day, but have made finding quick unhealthy snacks easier to find.

In a recent study, pedometers were given to 98 workers in 10 different occupations. They were asked to wear the devices for three consecutive work days and at the end of the study, researchers found that: Secretaries, teachers, lawyers and police officers logged less than half the recommended goal of 10,000 steps per day for optimal healthy. Mail carriers topped the list of active workers, taking over 18,000 steps a day. Next came custodians, restaurant servers, factory workers, construction workers and nurses.

What this tells us is that many of us come up short of that 10,000 step mark each day and we need to make an extra effort to stay active and healthy. Where do you start? It's might be easier than you think. By changing a few simple habits in your daily routine, you can have a healthier body and weight and feel much better during the day.

Most people snack on potato chips, pretzels candy and soda. Replace some of these unhealthy foods with fruits and vegetables. Gradually it will become easier to give up those unhealthy choices all together. Prepare a vegetable platter and include raw broccoli, cauliflower and carrots with ranch or bleu cheese dressing for a dip. Even though the dressing may have a high fat content, in moderation with veggies you'll be fine and children enjoy using the dipping sauce too.

Distract yourself. When those nasty candy cravings hit, take a walk, call a friend or find an activity that helps take your mind off the craving. Eventually your brain will catch on and stop thinking you need those treats.

If you crave a specific treat, such as chocolate, pick up a bag of trail mix. You'll satisfy your sweet tooth with the chocolate candies in the mix, but you'll still get protein from the nuts.

Drink water. We know how a glass of water can help curb your appetite, can keep you feeling refreshed and more energetic, but being hydrated also makes your craving urges less intense because you'll feel full.

If you must have sweets, limit your intake to small portions. Moderation is key so instead of having a large piece of pie, settle for two or three bites instead. Frozen fruit is a great snack when you're craving a sweet dessert. Grapes, bananas and berries are a perfect mix of sweet and smooth flavors to knock that craving to the side for the evening.

Give yourself options when hunger strikes. Instead of a drive thru window or a vending machine, keep healthy snacks in your car, office or purse to hold you over until you can eat a proper meal. Granola bars apples and cheese are great options.