We all have foods that we crave. For some people, it's sweets and chocolate, for others it's salty snacks or foods high in carbs.

When you get a strong craving for a food you know you shouldn't have, what do you usually do?

Do you have a "game plan" in place to help with your cravings?

Is there any one food that you feel completely out of control with? One that you know if it is in the house, you will be eating it?

Great question! I crave chocolate, and not just one week out of the month! I don't keep chocolate in the house, so I have to find something else to solve that particular craving when I'm home. If I'm out and about, I only purchase dark chocolate, and then only a very small bar. If the store doesn't have chocolate with these two requirements, I skip it. These strategies certainly cut down on my chocolate consumption!

I don't keep cashews in the house anymore. If I have them I eat them all in one sitting no matter what I promise myself.

I hear you, believe me. I'm like that with potato chips. I will sit and eat the whole bag! I don't allow them in the house at all anymore, not even for the kids. I used to feel guilty about it, but then I realized they too will be healthier for not having them around. I buy fruit to snack on now - for everyone.

If it tastes good and it's bad for you... I want it!! How do you think I got into this mess??! It wasn't by eating lettuce. LOL. Sweets, high fat foods, high salt foods... they seem to have almost an addictive force over my body. Whenever I slip and let myself have some, my body just wants more and more of it. Chocolate seems to be really bad. And I'm not even a HUGE chocolate fan. I like it but I'm not obsessed about it like some people. But have one piece and next thing I know I'm craving it and thinking about it more and more. Same way with fast food. There have been times when I find myself wanting to pull into every fast food restaurant I pass on the street! Sweets in general seem to fall in this category for me. Have something sweet, next thing you know all I can think about is having more sweets. I DO allow myself fruit when I want something sweet. But golly! I even have to be careful with the fruit!

I'm like you all... I just have to give it up if it is something I have a problem with. It doesn't come into the house. And I stay away from it when I'm out. The good news is that when you stay away from it, you eventually get over those cravings and many times I have found that it isn't even enjoyable anymore if I haven't eaten it for a very long time.

Unfortunately, I do have to let SOME food in the house for my family. LOL. I happen to be one of those who LOVES pasta and bread. They are not terrible food choices when eaten in moderation. I just have to stay away from them, though. I find the more highly processed foods like pasta tend to run my blood sugar up higher anyway. I'm trying to stick to carbs on the lower glycemic index scale... like potatoes - regular and even sweet potatoes or yams, whole grain rice, oatmeal, etc.

My blood sugar monitor may well be one of my best diet aids. When I monitor more often, I tend to make better food choices. When I eat the bad stuff, I don't want to check my blood sugar because I know it is going to be high.