Food cravings are often the undoing of every dieter's weight loss efforts. Just a passing vision, thought, scent or even sound can trigger an almost uncontrollable urge to eat chips, pastries, French fries or chocolates. And as every dieter knows, giving in to every bit of craving can be dangerous. A little chocolate here, a juicy cheeseburger there or a bag of chips on the side is enough to get you to abandon your healthy meal plans in exchange for these high-calorie foods that are laden with saturated fat and obscene levels of simple sugars and sodium that are detrimental to your health. Before you know it, you have ruined whatever headway you were making with your fat loss program and are back to square one.

But it is possible to stay on track. As a learned response, you can control what you eat and how you react to temptations to eat all the delicious comfort foods around you. Here are some helpful tips to help you manage your food cravings:

1. Don't go on a calorie-restrictive diet. The concept of dieting is one of the most misunderstood where weight loss is concerned. To lose weight, it is true that you need to expend more calories than what you are taking in. However, your body needs a certain amount to fuel up its daily activities. On the average, adults need an average of 2,000 calories per day. Going on a diet that restricts your caloric intake from 800 to 1,000 calories is not only dangerous, it deprives your body of essential nutrients that make giving in cravings easier. Instead of restriction, think of healthy, balanced meals. Eat more fruits and vegetables and avoid soda. Research has shown that those who stuff their bodies with healthy whole foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains were less likely to crave on highly- processed foods laden with saturated fat, simple sugars, sodium and preservatives.

2. Drink water and keep a bottle handy. You should strive for at least eight to ten 8 oz glasses of water every single day. This keeps you hydrated and meets your daily fluid intake. Our body often mistakes hunger for thirst. So the next time you crave or feel hungry, grab a bottle of water first before diving into whatever it is you are craving for. This will not only help you manage your craving while curbing your caloric intake at the same time, it will also help you listen and understand what your body is telling you.

3. Don't stock your pantry with unhealthy foods you crave. Usually, cravings are not enough to propel you to drive to the nearest convenience store to get your favorite brand of chocolates in the middle of the night, right? So the most practical way to deal with food cravings is to stock your ref with only what is healthy so when you crave for a donut, you can just get eat an apple or a banana. Put in gallons of nonfat soy yogurt so you can grab these the next time you want an ice cream. Remember that you are in control of your diet. Don't let food dictate you so you can manage your cravings.