Sometimes it feels like your cravings are driving your decisions. Clearly you didn’t mean to eat all the candy at work, or that whole dessert, or finish that bag of chips. When your food choices feel out of control, it’s time to set yourself up for success with these simple tips to curb cravings (aka the monster inside).

Get a good night’s sleep

When you don’t get enough sleep your body will crave a boost of energy. That boost is often in the form of simple sugars, so make sure you get 7-9 hours of sleep to fend off cravings. Here are some tips to help you sleep better.

Eat balanced meals

Whether you are a breakfast-eater or an intermittent-faster, eating balanced meals throughout the day is going to give your body the nutrients it needs and help it feel satiated, which will help curb cravings later in the day. A meal with all the macronutients -fats, proteins, and complex carbs – like scrambled eggs with greens and avocado or a kale salad with roasted chicken and olive oil dressing will do the trick.

Don’t let yourself get hangry

Eating consistently throughout the day will keep your blood sugar balanced and help you avoid that starving feeling. Skip a meal or two and you might end up hangry… you know that irritable or angry feeling when you have waited a little too long to eat. When you reach that point, cravings will definitely take over.

Guzzle a glass of water

When you get cravings, stop and have a big glass of water before you indulge. We often confuse dehydration with hunger and this simple step can help.

Eat mindfully

When you slow down and pay attention to what you eat, your body feels more satisfied. When you are satisfied, there are less chances for cravings. Give it a try, here are some tips for eating mindfully

Break the routine

Not all cravings are about nutrients. Sometimes our cravings stem from emotions like boredom, stress, or sadness. Deconstruct your cravings when they arise and find something else to do, like take your dog for a walk!