How to Stop Junk Food Cravings

Written by Erica Paredes Eating what you want when you want is like a dream come true, but a diet such as this can also cause a lot of repercussions to your body. You may not feel it immediately, but as time goes by, you will realize that all the junk and unhealthy food you consume really does take its toll on your health. Eating a lot of bad food usually makes you feel tired and sluggish all the time, you may even get sick more often if your body isn't receiving enough nutrients.

If you notice, after a detox or a bout with healthy food, you start noticing the fat, salt and sugar content in the things you eat when you resume your normal diet. Suddenly, your two teaspoons of sugar is too sweet in your coffee and munching your way through a bag of potato chips makes you cringe from the sodium.

So how does one enjoy food that is both healthy and flavorful? According to Dr. Jean-Michel Cohen of The Parisian Diet, in order for a "diet" to work, one must be able to still enjoy the food he or she eats. In fact, he believes in an entire lifestyle change so you don't feel like you are on a diet, as diets usually connote suffering and deprivation.

With constant "reprogramming" you will soon find that your body will be looking for healthy food and rejecting junk, allowing you to enjoy the full flavor of food with natural herbs and spices used to flavor instead of relying on preservatives and too much salt. He also gives the go signal for not-so-healthy food, but in moderation and with trade-offs. For instance, you want a glass of wine with your meal, that is no problem in the Parisian Diet, but you must remember to remove one serving of fruit for that day. If you are really craving pizza, don't exceed two slices and get one with the least amount of toppings possible.

There is always a way to be able to give in to our cravings without going overboard. Here is one example of a Parisian Diet-approved, healthy but delicious meal that won't leave you bored or wanting more.

Bistro Phase

Roasted Beef and Provençal Tomatoes

3 oz. of top sirloin beef
2 small whole tomatoes
1 tablespoon herbes de Provence or Italian seasoning

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Season beef with salt and pepper.
Grill, broil, or roast the beef for 10 minutes.
Cut the tomatoes in half and place, cut side up, on a nonstick baking sheet. Sprinkle tomatoes with seasoning.
Cook in the oven for about 20 minutes until tender.
Serve with the beef.