Say Good-By to Your Problem Foods

Do I have trouble craving certain foods?
Do I want to eat a certain food all the time?
Do I find it difficult to stop eating that food until it is all gone?

How Can I Stop!!

Things You Can Do

We call foods we have trouble controlling "Problem Foods." Recent medical research has found that problems controlling certain foods can be a form of food addiction.

Addiction to food can be serious. Food addiction can be similar to being addicted to drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. The more we eat the problem food, the more we crave the food. The more we crave the food, the more we eat the problem food. It can be a vicious cycle. Food can be like a drug used for stress, boredom, anger and other emotions that we keep inside. Instead of eating for hunger, we eat to soothe feelings.

Am I eating for fuel, or am I eating to soothe a feeling? Food is all around us and eating is an acceptable behavior. That is part of the problem! That is why we need to stop and ask ourselves before we eat, "Am I eating for fuel, or am I eating to soothe a feeling?" Getting in touch with how we are feeling and then acting on that feeling with things other than eating can be helpful. For example, when you are craving ice cream, stop thinking about the ice cream and go do something else. You can journal, read, take a bath, play outside or walk your dog. Focus on your hobbies, friends, pets or other things that distract you and make you happy other than food. Remember, when you have a craving, the craving will go away if you give it a little time. Count to 20! The delay helps you to avoid caving into the craving. "Don't cave into the craving!!!" Repeat. "Don't cave into the craving!!!"

Let others know your plan so they can support you. Your family and friends can help you with ways to cope, other than with food. Ask your parents not to buy "junk food" or not to bring it into the house. If they do buy junk food, ask them to put it out of sight or in a difficult place to reach so that you will not be as tempted to eat that food. Inform your friends and family of your new approach to eating by telling them that you "eat for fuel" and that food is no longer going to control you anymore. You are now going to be in control of the food!!! If you feel like you need to talk with someone other than your family and friends, request to talk with a counselor at school or in the community. Remember you are not alone and we know you can do it!!

Here's a tip to help you fight your problem foods.
(Following the Sample Action Plan is a blank Action Plan Form for you to fill out and send in.)

An Action Plan To Stop Eating Problem Foods

1. First, put a check mark by the words below that best describe how you feel about yourself.

2. Then write a good-bye letter to food and the problem food. Here is a sample letter.

My Action Plan To Stop Eating Problem Foods

1. Put a check mark by the words below that best describe how you feel about yourself.

Sad Hurt Disappointed Miserable Ashamed Rejected Worthless Inadequate Exhausted Uninterested Bored Worried Scared Out of Control

Humiliated Self conscious Pressured Abandoned Mad Criticized Paranoid Stressed Alone Lethargic Guilty Angry Hopeless

2. Write a good-bye letter to food and the problem food.

Dear food, Yours Truly, _____________________

3. Congratulations on taking the first step to saying good-bye to your problem foods!!!!