Wouldn’t it be great if we could all crave fresh veggies rather than something loaded with fat, sugar or salt? Well, it may just be a matter of satisfying your body and brain rather than giving in to your craving demon. Here’s what you can do to help curb your “bad” cravings and turn them into healthy habits.

• Make sure you eat enough. Surprisingly, if you’re on a strict diet and avoiding your favourite foods for too long or missing — maybe even skipping — meals, you may be creating your own cravings. What you should do is enjoy healthy meals and snacks regularly.
• Eat breakfast. It’s true – breakfast is the most important meal of the day so be sure not to miss it. Skipping breakfast can turn lunch, snacks and dinner into a free-for-all. And try to include eggs as part of your breakfast. According to obesity studies, those who eat eggs for breakfast consume about 300 fewer calories overall in a day. For more breakfast tips, read Super fast, super easy breakfast and lunch ideas.
• Indulge — but just a little. While enjoying a diet that’s rich in healthy choices, feel free to indulge — guilt free — every once in a while. Completely denying yourself of a food you love could make it something your body craves.
• Trick yourself. When it comes to fighting food cravings, fool your system by making your food look bigger. For example, use small plates and utensils to make a healthy portion size look bigger. Or when a craving hits, try a low-fat smoothie made with fruit, fat-free yogurt and low-fat milk. Then, add half a dozen ice cubes to the mix. Tests have shown that those who drank a “pumped up” shake ate less later on than those who drank one that looked smaller.
• Listen to mom. Your mother was right: Drink your milk and eat your spinach. Calcium rich foods (typically dairy) eaten early in the day seem to help the body burn calories. So, think about adding milk, yogurt, and calcium-enriched orange juice to your morning, and learn to love broccoli and spinach, both excellent sources of calcium.
• Question your hunger. Figure out if you’re really hungry. Try having a glass of water before you indulge in a snack. Often, we mistake thirst for hunger. Or try a small (1 oz) handful of almonds — high in protein, fibre, and monounsaturated fat — which are satisfying and may help with weight loss.
• Deal with stress. If you’re eating due to stress, then deal with your stress, not your “hunger.” Try deep breathing or this 5-minute stress busting exercise. If emotional eating is causing problems for you, read Put a stop to emotional eating — for good!
• Ride it out. When a craving hits, do something else for about 15 or 20 minutes and wait until the feeling goes away. Try going for a walk, surfing the Internet or reading. Actually, just about any activity (besides eating) will probably do the trick.