Bread, chips, cookies, and carbs… crave much?

Even when you begin improving your eating habits, incorporating cleaner foods and better practices, you can still fall victim to the massive carb craving.

Do you feel me?

Sometimes, we attribute these carb cravings to a lousy day at work or a stressful situations at home, but carb cravings can also come from physiological imbalances.

When you feel stress, cortisol, the stress hormone, skyrockets along with your blood sugar.  To compensate, your body releases the fat storage hormone, insulin, to help bring your blood sugar back to stable.  When that happens, the insulin tends to overcompensate, and your blood sugar dips lower than it should. Your body becomes confused and thinks it needs more energy, and thus, a carb craving is born.

Now that you've got a sense of the science…

Here are a few of my favorite tricks on how to SWAP it OUT!

The Salty Swap.  Next time you can't shake your craving for a crunchy, salty snack like potato chips, go for something that gives you what you want in a healthy way.  For example, carrot and celery sticks with a side of hummus will fill you up and fuel you for the rest of your day. Or my favorite… make popcorn on the stove top!  So easy and delicious… over medium high heat, put a tablespoon of coconut or olive oil in a large pan with one kernel, cover, and when it pops, add about 1/4 c. of kernels and VOILA!  Sprinkle with a little sea salt to fulfill your saltiest desires.

The Sugary Sweet Swap.  Sweet tooth at it again?  Next time you're longing for a dessert, trick your brain with something naturally sweet that isn’t full of refined sugars and processed junk.  A square of dark chocolate (go for at least 80% cacao) is a satisfyingly indulgent choice that won’t derail your habits. You could also have a banana “shake” using almond milk, cinnamon and a few drops of vanilla extract for a treat will satisfy your sweet tooth.

The Pasta and Bread Swap.  And of course, there’s the staple items you’ve always eaten with every meal because that’s what you’re used to. Rice, pasta, bread, even cereal…these are all high-carb foods that can get you stuck in a carb craving pattern if you eat them too often. Luckily, there are swaps you can make that will fill you up while still being wholly satisfying. You guys knew this was coming… Cauliflower is a great way to make pizza crust, breadsticks, mashed “potatoes,” and rice. Seriously, it is delicious and satisfying!

So take note… and next time those carb cravings hit… go for a swap!

What is the first one that you will TRY?