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Hard To Resist: 20 Foods You Always Crave When Dieting


Hard To Resist: 20 Foods You Always Crave When Dieting


Dieting Will Make You Miss Pizza and Cake

Dieting is challenging, but what makes it nearly impossible are the cravings. The more we eat kale, couscous, and tofu, the more we want to enjoy cheeseburgers and ice cream. Since you're already thinking about your next plate of nachos, here are 20 foods you always crave when dieting. 

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1. Pizza

You're probably familiar with pizza, which is possibly the world's most beloved food. The gooey cheese, chewy crust and collection of your favorite toppings make pizza the food you might crave the most while on a diet. Push through and enjoy a slice on your first cheat day. 

a group of people eating pizzaNatali Hordiiuk on Unsplash

2. Ice Cream

If you're dieting in the middle of the summer, you will miss having a refreshing cone of Rocky Road or Butter Pecan. Ice cream will undermine your diet, so don't give in to this sweet and indulgent dessert. 

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3. French Fries

Who couldn't eat an entire order of French fries by themselves? Whether it's on the side of a smashburger or just on their own, crispy French fries are the perfect salty and savory food. 

fried fries on white paperLOGAN WEAVER | @LGNWVR on Unsplash

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4. Chocolate

Chocolate has some health benefits, but don't let that convince you to cheat on your diet. Milk chocolate is one of the most common cravings for dieters, but unfortunately, it's packed with calories and sugar. 

chocolatesamirali mirhashemian on Unsplash

5. Donuts 

A donut for breakfast or as a midday snack is always amazing. There's no doubt that you'll be thinking about a soft and sweet glazed or jelly donut while you're on the treadmill. 

pile of donutsAnna Sullivan on Unsplash

7. Cheeseburgers

Diet or no diet, most people crave a cheeseburger. It's hard not to when you consider the melted cheese, soft bun, and perfectly cooked meat patty. It's an even harder craving to resist when you picture the perfect cheeseburger topped with pickles, onions, and lettuce. 

burger with lettuce and cheeseNathan Dumlao on Unsplash

8. Cake

Cake is always a guest at any celebration, so not eating cake while you're dieting makes you feel like you are missing out on more than just dessert. A slice of fluffy cake with layers of sweet frosting is indulgent and satisfying, but it's loaded with fat and sugar. That makes it a no-go for any diet. 

white cake with chocolate syrup on white ceramic plateAmerican Heritage Chocolate on Unsplash

9.  Potato Chips

The satisfying crunch of a potato chip will never be part of any diet. It is, however, one of the most commonly craved snack foods among people on a diet. You might think that only a handful of potato chips doesn't do any harm, but it's a slippery slope. Potato chips are high in calories and sodium and made from refined ingredients. 

a close up of a bag of potato chipsEsperanza Doronila on Unsplash

10. Cookies

Diets cut us off from cookies, one of the best foods in the world. Crunchy or chewy, they are a go-to craving for anyone on a diet. They're portable and delightful, but full of sugar and fat. Their size makes portion control nearly impossible. 

brown cookies on blue and white ceramic plateAmerican Heritage Chocolate on Unsplash

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11. Fried Chicken

Fried chicken is one of the best meals ever. Its crispy, crunchy texture and tender, juicy meat make it irresistible. It's also packed with fat and high in sodium, so you need to abstain from it while on a diet. Keep it in mind for your next cheat day, and don't forget the cole slaw. 

fried chicken on brown paper bagBrian Chan on Unsplash

12. Mac and Cheese

Every bite of mac and cheese is a moment to savor. It's creamy, cheesy, delectable, and loaded with carbs and fat. Put this classic American comfort food aside until you reach your diet goal. 

a dish of macaroni and cheese with a spoon in itKeith Hanson Jr on Unsplash

13. Pancakes with Syrup

For most, being on a diet means adjusting what we eat for breakfast. You're better off with a grapefruit and low-fat yogurt than a stack of fluffy pancakes covered in sugary syrup. 

pancakes on palteLuke Pennystan on Unsplash

14. Candy

Candy is a broad category, but you will crave many different types of it while you're on a diet. Unfortunately, dieting means restricting yourself from having even a single strand of licorice. It's designed to be addictive, so steer clear. 

person holding a candy pack on white plastic boxVinicius

15. Soda

Soda might be one of the worst beverages to consume while on a diet. Soda is liquid sugar and is highly addictive. If you're a fan of it, then you will crave it all the time. Soda is nothing but empty calories and spikes insulin. Stay far away from it while you're on a diet, and consider ditching it altogether once you've hit your weight goal. 

blue and orange labeled bottlesAlexandra Nosova on Unsplash

16. Pasta with Cream Sauce

If you love Alfredo or carbonara, then you will crave it like crazy during your diet. There's no substitute for a satisfying bowl of pasta with cream sauce. You'll just have to learn to live without it temporarily. 

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17. Nachos

Nothing says "game night" like a plate of fully loaded nachos. Tortilla chips topped with cheese, jalapenos, tomatoes, and sour cream are a parade of cravings on one plate. If you're on a diet, you will crave every crunchy bite, but each one is full of calorie-dense ingredients. Nachos make portion control and portion tracking impossible.

green vegetable salad on white paperJay Gajjar on Unsplash

18. Milkshakes

A thick and creamy milkshake is a dessert posing as a beverage. Dieters want them because they're refreshing, sweet, and indulgent. Unfortunately, each serving can have up to 1,000 calories, and that's without the whipped cream topping. 

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19. Croissants

A buttery, flaky croissant is a great portable breakfast, and they are especially enjoyable when paired with coffee. When you're on a diet, you'll miss their texture and richness, but that's kind of the point of dieting. Their lightness is deceiving, and it's easy to eat three or four before you realize how many carbs you've ingested.

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20. BBQ Ribs

Ribs are smoky, tender, filling, and fun to eat. Dieters need to avoid them like the plague because they are a fatty cut of meat and offer no nutritional value. 

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