7 Ways to Overcome Junk Food Addiction
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People eat fast food because it is tasty and easily available. You don’t have to cook if you are ordering fast food from a restaurant. People are nowadays busy with their hectic work schedules; nine to five jobs are one of the several reasons why people eat fast food. If you too are working and find no time or energy to cook at home then you might be one of those people who live to eat junk food. It is important for you to find out some effective ways to break your or your family’s fast food habits. Here are some tips on how to overcome junk food addiction.
1. Notice how often you stop at fast food places and why
Usually people don’t keep track of the number of visits they pay to fast food joints. So, assess how often you stop at fast food joints along with the times you order fast food from a restaurant. Once you have done this, you can find out the reasons behind your junk food eating habit. Find out if your hectic schedule, laziness or any other reason is responsible for this.
2. Rate your addiction on a scale of 0 to 10 and accept that you have a problem
It is important to accept a problem, and only then you will be able to solve it. Find out how many times a week you visit the nearest burger or pizza joint and rate your addiction on a scale of 0 to 10, honestly. If you are having a burger or a pizza at a fast food joint everyday, then you are surely sitting at 10. On the other hand, if you are having a pizza or a burger once a week then you are sitting at 1.
3. Calculate how much money you spend on junk food every month
Money spent on junk food is money wasted. So, collect all your fast food bills and calculate the amount of money you spent on junk food at the end of every month. You will be surprised to see how much you spend on fast food. This will help you understand that you can save all this money and use it in a better way by cooking at home.
4. Don’t reward yourself with junk food
People usually find reasons to eat junk food. Stop using this type of food as a reward. Junk food only pampers your taste buds. It doesn’t bring any benefit to your overall health. So, whenever you feel like rewarding yourself or one of your family members for an achievement, go to a restaurant and order healthy food instead of junk food. Have roasted chicken, and salads instead of junk food or take a day off from the household chores as a reward.
5. Count your calories
This is one of the best ways to realize how much you are harming your body with fast food. Make sure you count all of the calories you consume from the foods you order at fast food corners. Compare your calorie intake with the required calorie need of your body (1500 to 2000 calories a day) and you will be surprised with the results. Cut back on calories by cooking at home.
6. Identify the ingredients you crave often
Every food item has several ingredients. Our taste buds crave for some specific ingredients rather than the actual food item. For instance, if you love chicken burgers for the aroma of chicken then you might be having these burgers for chicken. Identify the ingredients you get tempted for and use consume them in a healthier way. For example, you really love the aroma and taste of the chicken used in chicken burger then you can simply have a chicken sandwich at home. This will help you cut back on the cheese and calories that chicken burgers have.
7. Carry healthy snacks in your handbag always
Keep healthy and convenient snacks such as nuts or trail mix in your bag. This will help you control your hunger and not stop at a fast food joint.
