Are you a "Seefood" Eater?

The title is not a spelling error.  This blog is not about eating seafood (although I encourage you to enjoy seafood at least twice a week).  It is about food cravings and some tips to manage them.

A "seefood" eater is a characteristic of many Americans.  News reports have followed Americans throughout the day.  We see an American at work that enjoys lunch, and then one hour later sees some food in the employee resource area.  Seeing food, he or she will decide to eat the food just because it is present.  Some people will comment that it is too difficult to resist the food or they have a craving for it. Do you "seefood" and immediately just take it?  Do you stop to think if you are hungry?

While doing some organizing of education materials that I received while attending professional continuing education meetings, I found an interesting document about the 5 Ds.  It is entitled:

Disarm your Cravings with the 5 Ds.  When you think you have a craving, disarm the need for food with the 5 Ds:

1. Delay- wait 10 minutes
2. Distract – concentrate on something else
3. Distance – do not keep temptation on hand; make yourself leave your environment to get the food
4. Determine – think about how much you really want it; or if at least three hours have passed since your last meal.
5. Decide – know how much to eat of the snack.  If you choose to eat something, remember to enjoy it.  Eat it slowly instead of grab and go.

It is important to remember that food is all around us.  You sometimes cannot control the craving, but you can control your reaction.  Understand your "seefood" craving in relation to your mood or situation.  Think management instead of control.  It is impossible to control every situation in life.  Take responsibility for making healthful choices in each eating circumstance.  Cravings are not hunger.  They usually will go away if you distract yourself with other thoughts and activities. 

So "seefood" eaters, give the 5 Ds a try.