Here is a techique borrowed from the popular 12 step programs for helping you understand what's going on when you experience food cravings. Whether you find yourself mindlessly munching or if you're in the grips of an intense urge to eat, try this simple technique next time:

Try imagining a mental STOP sign and say the word "H.A.L.T." as you reach for the "forbidden" food. Ask yourself, "Am I....
H=Hungry?
A=Angry or Anxious?
L=Lonely?
T=Tired? or Bored (life seems "Tedious")?

If you are truly physically hungry, go ahead and eat a sensible portion of the food you desire. If you find that the answer to the "H question" is "No", then consider whether food is really the solution to the sensation you are experiencing.

It may even be helpful to post a HALT or STOP sign near the place you find yourself snacking on foods that don't feel supportive of your goals to remind you of the technique.

Remember that you may have grown accustomed to using food as a solution to non-food-related problems for a long time, having developed a maladaptive habit that really does NOT support your goals toward better health. Be gentle with yourself! It has taken years for you to develop and support the habit and it will take time to UNlearn it. Take the time to learn to identify your true needs, find solutions that really work, AND move toward improved health for life!