Love Junk Food? Here’s How You Can Motivate Your Brain to Give Up Junk Food!

Every once in awhile it feels good to treat yourself to a pizza, a handful of fries, or maybe a few donuts. While it is acceptable to do it occasionally, you might have reasons to worry, if you see yourself doing this every day or too frequently. Take out foods are unhealthy not just for your body and brain, but also for your savings and future. According to a recent study, there’s an unusual spike in fast food consumption over the past four decades. This alarming rise is the major cause of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular troubles.

Another study found that around 37% of the Americans, which roughly accounts for around 85 million people as per the country’s current population, consume fast food regularly. This was according to a survey done on over 10,000 participants by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Another cause of the alarm and the need to cut down on junk food is the fact that it accounts for around 147 billion dollars of healthcare expenses every year around the US.

Parents and young adults need to stop consuming fast food, for more than just their health reasons. A study found that the current obesity rate of children in the US is at 19% or around 13.7 million kids. As most kids learn from the behavior that adults model, it is important for parents to adapt to careful eating habits while around the children.

However, if you find it difficult to give up junk food, here’s a quick guide that could come to your rescue.

Delve Into the Details of Your Food

Familiarity breeds contempt not just amongst people, but on the food we eat too. Once you start researching into all that goes in your food, you’re sure to gross-out. And that would serve as an immense motivation to avoid junk food. For instance, you could watch videos on where the ingredients for that delicious burger at your favorite take out place comes from. You could also read about the unethical and unhygienic practices that most food joints practice. And soon, you will be thanking yourself for even wanting to give up on all that.

Once you get there, it’s not going to be hard to say no to junk food or fast food. After all, nobody wants things that gross them out on their plates. So, that’s one great place to start. And make sure to clear out your cupboards and food drawers of all the junk food to help you with the process.

Have a Buddy

Quitting a longtime habit of indulging in fast food and junk food might be difficult. More so, if your workplace buddies, family members, and friends are all frequenting these joints often. Nobody wants to be a social outcast in all their life situations and look like the picky eater. While your friends are bound to understand that you’re in this for good and will support you, it always helps to have a dieting partner. The motivation you get from having someone to go through this detox with is more than you would like to believe. After all, it gives you the push and belief that you’re not alone in this!

Have a Cheat Day

While it is best to avoid junk food, don’t forget that the craving and stress only make your journey to junk food detox all the more difficult. Instead, have a cheat day! You could have anything that you crave for. You will soon start noticing that you crave less and less junk food as you start eating healthy. But make sure on the rest of the days you eat lots of greens, include foods that have ample flavor, a lot of variety, and naturally colorful. All these are proven to be effective in keeping cravings at bay.

The psychological satisfaction of being in control of your diet will further help you stay in control. Also, don’t forget to get ample sleep, reduce stress, and stay hydrated. Research evidence suggests that you are likely to give in to your unhealthy food cravings when you’re sleep deprives, under stress, or dehydrated.

We hope these tips were helpful. Remember, it is not possible to make an overnight change to your eating habits. So, be patient and embrace the change one day at a time. If you continue to face challenges in doing so, consult your doctor for professional help.