Why Your Cravings Keep Winning—And How to Change That (While Eating MORE of The Foods You Love)
Meaningful Movement
Takeaway: If you feel like food is always in control, the key might not be avoiding it but choosing higher-quality indulgences. By making your favorite treats more special, you naturally cut back on how often you indulge—and enjoy them more when you do. Shift the focus away from food and onto the moments and people around you, and you’ll find food becomes a part of the experience, not the entire event.
Why Your Cravings Keep Winning—And How to Change That (While Eating MORE of The Foods You Love)
This perspective shift changed everything for me in my pursuit to lose 100lbs:
Food is meant to enhance our experiences, not be the whole experience itself.
Sure, food is fun, delicious, and often tied to celebrations, but it shouldn’t be the main event.
Think about it—when you’re at a wedding or a barbecue, what do you remember the most? Is it the people, the laughter, the memories? Or is it the chips and dip that were laid out on the snack table?
Food is a great part of these moments, but it shouldn’t overshadow them. The key is to be mindful of how food fits into your life and your social experiences.
Elevate Your Indulgences
Indulging in food for pleasure doesn’t have to be a bad thing—it’s part of enjoying life.
But the problem often comes when we settle for convenient, low-quality food that are readily available.
You know the kind: fast food, chips, or other packaged snacks. These options are everywhere, but they don’t really satisfy—leaving you wanting more.
Instead, when you choose to indulge, aim for the highest-quality version of your favorite treats.
If you’re craving pizza, skip the cheap delivery and treat yourself to a gourmet pizza from a local spot that makes it fresh with quality ingredients.
If you want ice cream, go to that local parlor that makes every scoop by hand, rather than grabbing the store-brand pint.
Choosing higher-quality treats naturally creates barriers that limit how often you indulge. You can’t just grab gourmet pizza on every corner or a scoop of homemade ice cream at a moment’s notice.
By making these indulgences a little more special and less accessible, you reduce the frequency of consumption without feeling deprived.
Questions to consider:
What’s a food you often settle for that could be upgraded to a better version?
How about a food you settle for that you wouldn’t miss if you got rid of altogether?
The next time you indulge, how can you elevate the experience by choosing something higher-quality?
By focusing on the best versions of your favorite indulgences, you’ll actually enjoy the food more and make the experience feel more special. You’ll also find that you don’t need to indulge as often, because when you do, it’s worth it.
You get the satisfaction without overindulging in things that don’t truly make you happy.
Your “Special Treat” Toolkit
Shift the Focus: Next time you’re at a social event, try to focus more on the people and the conversation, rather than what’s on your plate. Take a moment to look around and appreciate the company you're with. You’ll find that the food becomes a complement to the experience rather than the centerpiece.
Choose Quality Over Convenience: If you’re going to indulge, make it worth it. Opt for high-quality, thoughtfully prepared versions of your favorite foods. Whether it’s a homemade dessert, a freshly made pizza, or artisanal chocolates, quality makes a big difference in how much you enjoy the experience.
Set Boundaries for Indulgences: Reserve indulgences for times that really matter to you. By creating boundaries around when and what you indulge in, you’re less likely to fall into the habit of mindlessly consuming whatever’s in front of you. When you do indulge, it’ll feel more special and satisfying.
The Bigger Picture
When we make mindful choices about the food we eat, especially during social events, we take back control from the overwhelming food landscape that’s constantly pushing us toward poor health.
It’s about being intentional with your indulgences, appreciating the best versions of the foods you love, and keeping the focus on the bigger picture—the connections and experiences that really matter.
By changing how we approach food, we can enjoy it for what it is—an enhancement, not the entire experience.
That’s when food becomes truly enjoyable without taking over.
P.S. Struggling with getting your eating under control? Here are three ways I can help:
Grab your free copy of my Food Freedom Framework: The nutrition guide we use to help our paying members master their nutrition without miserably following another diet plan.
Reply to this email and request access to our Social Eating Course. This course is designed for those already tracking their food, but unsure how to stay on track while out being social. Inside, you’ll learn all the best tips and tricks I’ve learned from logging food for the last 12 years.
If you’re serious about making a lifestyle change, book your free fitness consultation with a member of our team. We will discuss your goals and history to help you gain more clarity on how to approach your big fitness goals.