Setting yourself free from addictive foods that control you
Alcohol for many people is ok. But for some, taking just one sip of it, leads them back down into a spiral of being controlled by it. Cooked and processed food is the same. Many many people, more so than with alcohol, are gripped by food addiction and compulsive over eating. I count myself in this category.
If for example I eat toast, then I always want more, and more, and more. If I am presented with some sort of dessert, like cheesecake, sticky toffee pudding, in fact any dessert(!), then NO AMOUNT satisfies me. Even when I am full, I still want to eat more. It’s the same with many other foods, like pizza, chocolates, crisps. Pretty much any processed food, and many cooked foods don’t satisfy me, and that is irrespective of the amount eaten.
To help rid yourself of foods that seem to control you, you could try a few simple tricks.
Decide one day that a particular type of food is no longer part of your diet, and substitute it for something healthier. For example, do this for wheat. Instead of wheat, eat whole grain brown rice. Brown rice doesn’t have gluten in it and is much more wholesome. It is nowhere near as addictive as wheat based products. This may mean having to be pre-prepared so that you always have some ready. Another option is, you could eat lentils instead of wheat.
I currently eat neither cooked rice or nor cooked lentils, but they will be much better for you than cooked wheat, and they could help you transition to healthier alternatives still.
Just make one decision at a time. And learn how to eat without consuming that offending food for a few weeks before you try and eliminate or substitute another food. Keep chipping away at it, and eventually you’ll be on a healthier diet.
Make sure that you eat enough. If you used to eat a lot of bread, then you may need to eat a lot of rice or lentils instead. In the example, the important thing is to keep off the wheat based products – that includes bread (however healthy), biscuits, cakes, biscuit bases in desserts and so on.
There may be occasions when a social gathering brings you into temptation to eat that food again. Or it may be expected that you’ll eat it when served as part of a meal. This is something that helps me out:
People who matter don’t mind, people who mind don’t matter!
(That’s part of a quote I saw on the internet somewhere. It helps me keep on raw food!).
If however, you feel that you have to give in and eat what others are eating due to social expectations, then go for it and enjoy it!!! Make a decision that whenever you are in control of your food then your diet will consist of abc and not xyz.
If you really can’t completely let go of a food then another possible method is to have a designated cheat day in the week (eg. Saturday). For the rest of the week be totally strict with yourself.
The food substitutions and non-cheat days can really help your body get used to eating a healthier lifestyle. Have a practice at turning down food, or taking your own food to social occasions. Most of any awkwardness comes from within, and not from the other person. I now tell friends that most cooked foods make me ill (which they do), so I try not to eat them. This is almost always understood by the host. I try and explain beforehand so that there is no sudden embarrassment, and I may even take my own food. It’s very easy to cater for me though. A bunch of ripe bananas and a whole lettuce would make me more than delighted!
Here are some possible food and drink substitutions that may help you on the way to eating yourself into a healthier lifestyle. The first option is the offending food, the second option may help you let go of the first option. You may for example be able to let go of coffee if you have tea instead. Eventually you’ll break the grip that coffee had on you. When you have set yourself free from coffee, then try setting yourself free from tea, by drinking green tea instead. Then drink hot water and lemon instead of green tea, and so on. Eventually set yourself free from all the foods that control you.
Example food substitutions:
red meat > chicken
chicken > fish
bread products (eg pizza) > jacket potatoes
potatoes > rice or lentils
rice or lentils > several pieces of fruit with a large salad
cows milk > soya milk
coffee > tea
tea > green tea
chocolate > dates
sugar > honey
oil dressing > lemon or vinegar dressing
cooked dessert > fruit dessert
cooked veg > large salad
The other transition method that some people go for is to make a straight swap and never eat the old way again! If you are ill then you may be determined enough to go for this option, but it does take some will power!
I have now progressed onto a diet that is at least 95% raw. The past couple of months, apart from a couple of mouthfuls, I’ve eaten 100% raw. I think it is difficult to call yourself 100% raw though, because an occasional food will invariably slip through the net. This only leads to disappointment if you give yourself a label. There may well be an odd meal in the future when I eat cooked food as well. I do however aim to eat as near as possible to 100% raw food.
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Stuart this is an excellent blog, I really like the list at the end with the alternatives, really inspired.
Blessings
H
I too find cooked and processed ‘food’ highly addictive, thus the enjoyment of eating has been a challenging activity(I was a emotional compulsive overeater) for years. I find a simple pure lifestyle really does help!
Great tips!
Thanks very much for this, Stuart. It is really helpful as I do have quite a few food addictions. I successfully switched from tea to redbush tea and now I think ordinary tea tastes quite weird. I have bought a huge bag of dates and am substituting them for my sweet cravings.
Dates are great, I love them. However be careful with your teeth.
Dates tend to be dried a little so they will really stick to your tooth enamel. It’s best to soak them first, or have them in smoothies. I do still eat them as they come, but I try to get through them in one go rather than snack on them over an hour or two. Then once I’ve got through them I brush my teeth really well. It’s not good enough just to eat something like a carrot or few pieces of lettuce afterwards. You need to ensure that no bits of dates are sticking to your teeth, especially near the gum line. The reason I say all this is that I did have teeth problems, this was more due to poor habits such as snacking, eating late, and not brushing after eating. I’ve taken measures to address these poor habits and to improve my diet further. Now most of the time my teeth feel like they’ve been polished at the dentist!
Great blog Stuart! I decided to go raw for health recently but I find I do want cooked food sometimes, usually when I’m tired. Doves Farm have organic spaghetti made from brown rice, which is nice with a little salt if you feel you need, and it’s quick to cook. I see this as my new “treat” for when I feel the need. Also millet and bulgur wheat mixed together is nice with raw tomatoes and cucumber, and very quick to cook also. I thought I needed salt on this at first, then I realised that with lovely, sweet tomatoes, I didn’t need it. Regarding teeth, mine feel unclean after cooked food, which will obviously be due to the bacteria produced by it. Eat more raw