Are Your Cravings CONTROLLING You?

Top O’ the Mornin’ to all ye lads and lasses! It’s time to get your green on and celebrate the St. Paddy’s Day holiday. For many people, when a holiday arrives, we like to celebrate with the same comfort foods of our youth.

After getting past the heart-shaped boxes filled with cordials, fudge, and chocolates, we now are faced with another holiday to negotiate. It’s not easy to stay focused on your health related goals, when we are craving the same foods that got us into an unhealthy lifestyle in the first place. 

So, how do you change your eating? For most of us, it’s not easy. One cheat can develop into a bad habit quickly. 

In my fitness classes, we often talk about strategies in handling challenging situations when cravings rear their ugly head. It’s great to have cheats, but having them planned during the week is even better. 

During this time of year, many of my clients find themselves drawn to the McDonald’s Shamrock Shake. No matter how clean they normally eat with lots of protein, fruit, and veggies, they find themselves in the drive-thru a couple times each week. 

Feeling frustrated and guilty, they feel as though their clean eating efforts for the week have been for naught. As a trainer and nutrition specialist, I LOVE hearing these kinds of stories. 

Since most of us have a sweet tooth, I take the opportunity to make over recipes that incorporate a healthier approach. Here’s just one of my many recipe re-dos.   

Mock Shamrock—

1 scoop of vanilla whey or pea protein powder

1.5 cups of unsweetened vanilla almond milk

1 t mint extract

½ c Greek or coconut yogurt

1 c ice

Stevia to taste

Add all ingredients into blender. Mix to desired thickness.

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