Reprogram Your Taste Buds in just 9 Steps.
We all know how bad sugar is for us, but no matter what, we still crave it!
The truth is that if you were born after 1980, there’s a good chance you’re addicted to sugar.
But it’s not you. It’s your brain. And your taste buds. Ok, ok; it’s you.
But really, what can we do? After all, with over ten thousand taste buds, and with your brain constantly craving fat, sugar, and salt, no wonder it’s tough to cut sugar out of our diets. But we have to: they’re not just addictive. They’re also bad for our health!
Next time you’re about to give in, just remember these 9 fast and easy ways to reprogram your taste buds.
You’ll kick your sweet & salty craving habit for good!
1. Cleanse Your Palate
You might’ve seen people cleansing their palates at wine and cheese tastings, to truly appreciate actual tastes. Well, palate cleansing is also helpful to quitting cravings. It’s a simple way to “reset” your taste buds!
Here is a list of great foods you can eat to help cleanse your palate. (Number 9 might surprise you!)
2. Slow Down
Eat more slowly. Drink some water. Take small breaths in between bites.
That will you up faster, and force you to think about what you’re eating. It’s absolutely key to eating less sugary and salty foods.
3. Try Something New
Be adventurous! Try new foods you haven’t tasted before! Like your mom always said growing up, “You never know what you like until you try it.”
Don’t be afraid to try something you haven’t tasted in a while either. As we age, our taste buds change. Something you’ve disliked in the past could be your new favorite thing! Try that kale… you never know!
4. Practice Makes Perfect
That applies to eating, too! Keep eating your vegetables, and eventually your brain grows used to the taste. When you practice eating your vegetables, you’re forming a new habit, making it much easier to continue eating healthy foods.
5. Make a Positive Connection
Make a positive connection with your food and you’re more likely to eat it. Pair your healthy food with happy thoughts and music, or a positive event, and your brain will start to associate healthy food with positive experiences.
This matters because the next time you eat healthy foods, your brain’s pleasure sensor will light up, pretty much “rewiring” your brain! Cool, right?
6. Get Your Brain and Body on Board
When you put your mind to something, you can achieve anything! Start believing you like to eat your vegetables and soon enough you actually will!
And, get your body on board. You may not like the taste of healthy foods as much as the sugary, salty foods, but your body sure does. Notice how your body feels after you eat healthy foods versus after eating fatty foods. Use that as motivation to eat healthier.
7. The Oreo Method
Have you heard of “the Oreo method”? Basically, it’s eating healthy food around unhealthy food.
When you eat the foods you like with foods you’re not particularly fond of, your brain will eventually start associating gross food with the pleasure and comfort you feel while you’re eating unhealthy food. This can help you rewire your brain to actually like veggies.
8. Hot Method
Most of the time when we eat healthier foods, they tend to be cold — like salads. Another method to help reprogram your taste buds is to incorporate healthy foods into hot meals.
Try having hot vegetable soups or even cooking the vegetables you’d normally eat cold. This will change up your food, making it more interesting and enjoyable to eat healthier.
9. Mix-In Method
Mix in your vegetables. Trick your brain into thinking what you’re eating is the yummy, not-so-healthy stuff, when it’s actually really good for you! For instance, have you tried the cauliflower pizza crust craze or the kale smoothies that all your friends are talking about?
Which taste bud reprogramming method are you going to try first? Let us know in the comments below. If you want to learn more ways to get ripped, visit the GAT Sport Blog.