Food to satisfy "bad" cravings with no calories?

[PhoenixRises]

I'm not dieting, I'm just stopping eating crap and upping exercise.

Right now, I want to be naughty and eat a whole load of crisps and chocolate and all the stuff I shouldn't - I suspect my body is craving sugar; which I'm also trying to reduce.

So, what do you eat to satisfy the naughty cravings?

[plumstone]

When I am not doing VLCD which I am at the moment, I work on Friday Night is Free Night, i.e. I can have anything I want on a Friday night after work. I usually get to a Wednesday and feel a strong need for a wine/pizza/ or my body weight in doritos - don't have a sweet tooth so chocolate is not my thing. Promise my self that I can have it on Friday - even been known to put a reminder in my phone - so it pops up at 6pm on a Friday i.e. "7pm order Pizza" - get to Friday and honestly sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't - but if I do, I totally revel in every greasy, salt laden mouthful. Then forget about it.

I also know people who brush their teeth when the urge for something "naughty" hits them - I have tried it - but it wasn't for me!

[notagiraffe]

Not entirely good, but an improvement on crisps is to make your own popcorn, fat free, and sprinkle it with a bit of salt and smoky paprika. It's high fibre, lowish in calories and no fat.

If you are totally craving chocolate and nothing else will do, a 40 cal hot chocolate sachet is the best bet.

But if you really want to over come the crap cravings, I'd drink a massive glass of water (maybe infused with cucumber and mint or oranges or chilli and lemon) and eat some fresh raw veg - cucumber, celery, fennel, peppers and carrots.

[booksrock]

I could have written this. I was feeling very hungry and unable to concentrate so thought about all the foods I could have.

I ended up with hula hoops but that's my carbs for the day. I am on a high salt diet so finding healthy but salty food hard work. I love the idea of popcorn but haven't got a microwave in the office.

[PhoenixRises]

I like the idea of a "bad night" - Friday night is probably a good (if that's the word!) day to do it.

Well, I beat the cravings this time - did a 15 minute Davina section.

Still hungry, but I know that's because I've been eating too much. I'm not hungry as much as I want to binge eat and if I am really hungry, then it won't kill me.

I've also ordered a pilates DVD. I hate being hot and sweaty, but I want to tone up, so hoping gentle stretching will be the way to go.

[Diddlydokey]

Those low calorie jelly are good.

[plumstone]

Friday works for me, as I rarely do much on a Saturday morning, a dominoes with extra cheese (meant to be off dairy at the mo, so its become chippy chips with mayo and kebab meat ) most of a bottle of red and some crips and guacamole can funnily enough leave me with indigestion which can last for a good 18 hours - I like to plan a bad night, no interruptions so I can really enjoy it!!

[PhoenixRises]

Well, my stomach is rumbling, but dinner is not for roughly 4 hours (usually eat about 7.30-8.00pm).

I may have to adjust my times and eat with DS and not DH!

[MissBattleaxe]

It's much better to eat earlier in the evening.

[PhoenixRises]

I suspected as much - bit of a pain as DH eat the same, but DS usually eats a day later as he eats reasonably soon after school so what we have one night, he has the next day. I may have to alter things accordingly - or have a tiny lunch and then a mid afternoon snack...

Argh, why is life so complicated!

[toffeeboffin]

Eat protein and fat instead of the sugary rubbish

Hard boiled eggs
Peanut butter and a few crackers or an apple
Cottage cheese
Apple sauce and greek yog
Almonds
Cucumber slice with pate spread on them.
Cheese cubes and veg sticks
Carrots and hummus
Bowl of homemade veg soup

[MissBattleaxe]

I've starting snacking on a bowl of satsumas in the evening. It keeps your hands and your mouth busy. I hadn't eaten them for years and forgot how nice they were.

Also keep hard boiled eggs in the fridge and packs of ham so you're prepared in times of temptation.

[Caramelslice]

I'm low carb and focussed on health. But, I have two things that get me through: if I crave wine I have a zero cal soft drink (evil I know but doesn't make you fat) and after lunch and dinner I have one square of extremely dark chocolate - 90+%. It just completely kills cravings and it means I don't eat anymore.

[EmbroideryQueen]

Have a couple of low calorie boiled sweets (from health food shops, I think they're about 4 calories per sweet.

[Chchchchangeabout]

Itsu salted seaweed thins

[ClaraBorne]

seafood sticks, sugar free jelly