From The Doc: Q & A With Dr. Garcia About Cravings | Medical Aesthetics & Weight Loss Providers located in Tampa, Riverview and Palm Harbor, FL | Garcia Weight Loss Aesthetics & Hormone Therapy

It’s that time again! We sat down with Dr. Garcia and asked him about the best way to beat cravings, and what’s on his plate on Thanksgiving.

Dr. Garcia, talk to us about cravings … What’s your best advice when you’re hit with a serious craving and you’re trying to stick to eating healthy?

Dr. G: Well, the first thing to do when you get a cravings is to drink an 8-ounce glass of water and wait a little bit to make sure you are hungry, not just thirsty. Thirst is often masked as hunger. Drinking your water and waiting 20 minutes is a great way to test it.

Okay, what if my craving is very real, and I need something sweet, now!

When I want something sweet, I go for one of our On-The-Go Bars. They scratch that itch for something sweet, but they are loaded with protein and low in sugar. My new favorite flavor is Salted Toffee Pretzel. Another treat is frozen grapes — they are naturally sweet and since they are frozen you eat them slowly, so you tend not to gorge on them.

And what if it’s the salty taste I’m going for?

Almonds, low-salt pretzels, maybe some celery and peanut butter. Those are all good choices. We also have protein chips in a few different flavors; the Ranch is really good.

All right, talk to me about alcohol. If I’m going to have a drink, what should I look for?

It’s important to treat alcohol like a carb. You should moderate how much you have and be conscious of what you are mixing it with. The clear liquors like vodka tend to have less sugar than the darker ones like rum. Maybe do a vodka with diet tonic and lime, or you can use club soda as a mixer, too.

We just celebrated Thanksgiving. What’s your favorite dish?

I always make sure to load my plate with the protein (the turkey), and then I just do a small portion of all the sides. Although, I do love a sweet potato casserole. I gotta have more than just a little bit of that one!

Do you have any advice to sticking to a healthy lifestyle during the holidays?

I always make sure I take my supplements. The most important is an Omega-3. I also use Pro-Trim, it’s a thermogenic. And our Sereniti to help manage stress is always great this time of year when people tend to feel more stressed. By taking my supplements every day, it’s a little reminder to stay on track and to be mindful of my diet and activity as well.

Thanks, Dr. Garcia! Check out next month’s installment where we finish up our Q & A with Dr. G! Have a question for him? Leave it in the comments below and maybe we’ll ask him!

Get more tips for combatting holiday stress and food cravings in our new e-book, Creating a Healthy Holiday Season. We’ve even included healthier recipes for some of your favorite holiday foods. Download your free copy now!