Your body perceived a need to halt the falling glucose level and transmitted a signal that it needed sweets.( This theory applies only when you crave some form of quick-fix carbohydrate.) Your solution, simply put, is to eat some rich food, high in fat and protein with very little or no carbohydrate. Such a snack will stabilize your blood sugar, and presto-change-o, no more cravings.
The best foods to head off cravings are foods that contain both protein and fat. I call macadamia nuts the Atkins follower ' s best friend. Almost as effective are walnuts, pecans or Brazil nuts. Other good foods for stopping cravings are cream cheese or such rich dessert cheeses as mascarpone. Another cravings buster is something sweetened with sucralose, along with heavy cream. My personal favorite is to whip three ounces of heavy cream with two-thirds of a scoop of controlled carbohydrate shake mix to create a chocolate, vanilla, strawberry or cappuccino mousse. Or you may opt for a diet gelatin dessert slathered generously with whipped heavy cream( not the pre-made, sugar-added type, of course). Some controlled carbohydrate bars are also excellent cravings busters. There are also controlled carb chocolate bars( appropriate only after Induction) that serve when only chocolate will satisfy your cravings.
Let me just remind you of the basic principle behind this kind of eating. Macadamia nuts, for instance, may be on every conventional diet ' s no-no list because they are so calorically dense, but what counts is the effect they have upon your body chemistry. Because macadamia nuts have such a high ratio of fat to carbohydrate, they help control your appetite and tend to result in your eating fewer calories. Moreover, let ' s not forget convenience-nuts and seeds can easily be kept in your purse or pocket. If your business or travel schedule forces you to miss meals or be frequently exposed to unacceptable meals, you ' ve got a substitute or perfect tide-me-over at hand.
Another favorite of mine is the avocado, one of the few fruits that contains fat( yes, it is a fruit, not a vegetable). It is the beneficial monounsaturated-type fat, and the avocado provides a welcome taste departure for those who crave something fresh, natural and filling. You can make an elegant lunch by filling the big seed hollow with shrimp, crabmeat or tuna salad. Half a California or Haas avocado-the kind with a dark, textured skin-contains about 5 to 6 grams of digestible carbohydrate. You can also garnish your breakfast omelette with avocado. And then there ' s guacamole, just about everyone ' s favorite dip. You ' ll find my recipe on page 400.
But what if we ' re not talking about an addictive craving or a simple impulse that can be satisfied by a change in body chemistry? What if we ' re talking about long-term desire, something that has always been one of your favorite foods and now is on your no-no list? You know, things like pizza, bagels, tacos, egg rolls, pancakes, linguini and ______________( you fill in the blank).
Finding Substitutes for Favorite Foods
One of the best don ' t-fall-off-the-program techniques is to eat foods that substitute for a highly desired food. If you lust after any of the above, or for blintzes, lasagna, Yorkshire pudding or even chocolate truffles, ice cream, cheesecake or strawberry shortcake, the answer lies in using the ingenious substitutes for these foods I ' ve provided in the recipe section or through our website at www. atkinscenter. com. Learn to use them. They can be just as much a part of your menuplanning as grilled chicken and tossed salad.( Remember: Not all these recipes and products are suitable for the Induction phase.)
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