Part 3 - How to deal with treats
Treats, meaning food that’s not exactly health-promoting (like sweets, non-dark chocolate, chips, etc), absolutely CAN be a part of your real life healthy eating.
It’s a part of the “real” in real life :)
But, these are foods that have been created to be addictive. Food companies have spent millions of dollars creating the perfect crunch, the perfect sweet taste, and that perfect snack.
They call it the “bliss point” and they’re fighting for a higher amount of the “stomach share”. What these words really mean is the companies want their food to be addictive.
So, while these foods are perfectly fine as a small addition to your diet, they are a bit malicious. They want to take over and become your whole diet.
To keep them in balance, just employ some smaller versions of the techniques we’ve already talked about :)
Be conscious
First, really decide if this is something you want to eat AND enjoy. Things can be tempting when they’re in front of you or in your cupboard, so take a moment and really feel it out.
Do you really want to eat and enjoy this?
Be curious
How does it feel when you eat it?
Does it taste good?
Does it feel good?
How does it feel afterward?
No judgement, just be curious. Whether or not it feels good isn’t a judgement, it’s just information :)
Is there a healthier option?
If this is a treat you enjoy regularly, is there a healthier option that has a less addicting power?
I mentioned in the overview video that I have 2 very favourite treats – chocolate chip cookies and Lays Salt & Vinegar potato chips.
For the chocolate chip cookies, I’ve developed a healthy recipe that is full of wonderful whole food ingredients that I normally have around the house. This stops my everyday “I want a cookie!!” cravings.
For my salt & vinegar potato chip love, I try as much as I can to buy a different brand when I’m craving chips. My usual go to is Hardbite, a company out of Vancouver that makes better potato chips. They satisfy my craving, BUT! They’re not very addicting. They don’t have the perfect crunch and chemical perfection that Lays chips have, so it’s much easier to walk away after just having a handful :)
Keep them out of sight
Whenever possible, be kind to your body and try your best to keep them out of the house.
But…when they do (you can’t say no every time :), keep them out of sight :).
If they’re sitting on the counter, you’re going to eat them.
If they’re hanging out in your go-to cupboard when you have the munchies, you’re going to eat them.
Keep them out of sight :).
My Hardbite chips can live in my regular snack cupboard because they don’t call out and tempt me. But, my Lays chips never go there.
My Lays chips hang out in my very high up, rarely opened, overflow cupboard. They’re so out of sight that I’ve even totally forgotten about a bag up there once :).
Even my good quality dark chocolate bars aren’t readily available. I LOVE chocolate and I’d only ever eat chocolate if it was always in front of me. So, instead, my chocolate lives under healthy crackers so I can’t see it.
It works :)
What are your favourite ways of keeping your favourite treats out of sight and out of mind? In the freezer? The garage?
Hop over to our Facebook page or email me and let us know!