How to Curb Chocolate & Bread Cravings

Many of us experience chocolate and bread cravings in the afternoon. It's really a craving for sugar and carbohydrates caused by a drop in the feel-good hormone serotonin, says Dr. Judith Wurtman, coauthor of "The Serotonin Power Diet" and former Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) scientist. To deal with the cravings, retraining them is necessary.

Things You'll Need

• Complex carbohydrate snacks, such as whole-wheat pretzels or popcorn
• Hot chocolate and milk for a chocolate craving

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Instructions

• 1

  Consume three meals per day with snacks in between to help stabilize blood sugar. Montana State University suggests including a fat, protein, and carbohydrate during each meal and snack.

• 2

  Eat a carbohydrate-based snack around 4 p.m., when these cravings peak, says Dr. Wurtman. Opt for something relatively low in fat, such as popcorn, wheat crackers, or cereal with a protein, such as string cheese.

• 3

  Add a healthy grain, such as brown rice or whole-grain pasta, to your evening meal. This will help keep your body from missing carbohydrates it needs to function.

• 4

  If you crave chocolate, try sipping hot chocolate. The heat forces you to drink it slowly while you get carbohydrates from both the sugar and the milk. Also note that some hot chocolates have virtually no fat content.