Quitting smoking is a great step toward improving your health. However, many people who give up smoking gain a few unwanted pounds. When a person is no longer puffing on a cigarette they tend to replace this action with eating. The key to successfully quitting smoking is by using frequent healthy snacks to help fight those cravings without gaining weight. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Water and Ice Chips
Drinking lots of water while you are trying to quit smoking can be very beneficial in several different ways. Drinking water is a good replacement for smoking because you are taking a drink each time you would normally be puffing a cigarette. It is also great for flushing nicotine out of the system, which can help stop those cravings in a shorter time. Drinking water is also calorie-free and can potentially help you to lose weight instead of gaining it. Eating ice chips has the same effect as drinking water and gives you a bit of variety--crunching instead of drinking. Calorie-free flavored water and flavored ice chips also offer a nice change from drinking plain water every day.
Fresh Fruits & Vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables can be great healthy snacks when you're trying to quit smoking. Many people do not get the recommended daily amount of servings of fruits and vegetables in their diet and this is a great way to get those necessary vitamins and minerals. The natural antioxidants found in many fruits and vegetables can also help flush toxins such as nicotine and tar from your system.
Dried Fruit and Vegetable Chips
Dried fruit and vegetable chips can be a great way to fight the craving to smoke while also making your diet healthier. These snacks are crisp and delicious and work perfectly at taking your mind off of smoking while also keeping your mouth busy by crunching. These are a much healthier alternative to sugary candies and have very few calories.
Low-Salt Pretzels, Crackers and Dry Cereals
Grabbing a handful of low-salt pretzels, crackers, or dry cereal when you have the urge to smoke is also a good way to stop those cravings. The flavor of lightly salted snacks is similar to the flavor of some cigarettes and works great at replacing smoking. However, this will need to be done in moderate amounts to avoid weight gain or having a rise in blood pressure due to the salt that is included in these snacks.
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