Flavor or Feel? What Draws You to a Food?
Sit back for a moment and think of your favorite foods.
Make a mental list of the foods you like to enjoy after you’ve had a good day. How about the foods you use to comfort yourself after a difficult day? Now consider what these foods have in common.
Are they salty, sweet, sour, or something else? Are they crunchy or soft? Do they have similar textures? Do they dissolve on your tongue?
Knowing the types of foods you like and are drawn to can help empower you to make healthy replacements. For example, let’s say your favorite food is cold and creamy (ice cream). What other types of foods could you replace this with? How about yogurt or cottage cheese? Or, how about homemade sugar-free popsicles? What if your favorite food is potato chips? You might find the same satisfaction with fresh sliced cucumbers or carrot sticks that allow you to bite on something.
One client of mine would often sabotage herself with a sleeve of saltine crackers and a brick of cheese. She was able to replace this with sunflower seeds and just a few ounces of cheese. It’s the small things that can make a huge difference in your success. Be aware of your cravings and make a game out of replacing them to beat the temptations.