There you are, it’s late afternoon or evening and the “sugar monkey” is on your shoulder screaming into your ear. What does it want? Sugar! And it wants it now!

Well… before you run to the candy machine at work or your dessert drawer at home, try these tips:

1. Get a big glass of water and take a walk with it. Yes, walk away from any source of food, and drink the water while taking a 15-minute walk. I know it sounds tough, and it is, but this does work.

2. Eat something that has good fat in it. NO, not the fudge, I’m talking an avocado (half please), a nice handful of nuts, or a large tablespoon of some nut butter. You can put the nut butter on some pieces of celery or apple. Eat the good fat slowly as possible and then vow to wait 15 minutes after consuming your last bite before you give in to any sugar. You will likely find that the craving has subsided.

3. Go do something super active for about 15 minutes. Run up and down some stairs or just walk quickly around the building. The endorphins produced from a quick boost of activity can often squelch that sugar monkey.

4. Okay, maybe you’re a woman at “that” time of the month. You’ve tried the above, but you’re still ready to eat a whole bag of cookies or peanut M&Ms. I feel you.

So here’s my final suggestion: After, and I repeat AFTER you’ve tried the above 3 steps, you may now indulge in some dark chocolate. The darker the better – over 70% cacao, and no dairy if you please. Just a small amount, eaten with little nibbles, not huge bites, and savored, should do the trick. I hope this helps. BUT WAIT!

With all that said, let me tell you a very important fact: if you’re craving sugar so intensely, there is a reason, and that reason can be solved. Come to see us and we will help you figure it out. We’re good at that. But that’s a bit of a longer-term strategy, so when you’re in the throes of that craving, try the above options.