When you need comfort what do you reach for? Do you have a particular food you always go for?

Of course it's better to take comfort in something other than food. If you can phone a friend or cuddle your dog or your partner that's great, but chances are you'll often still turn to food for comfort.

Maybe you love the taste and texture of ice cream or chocolate as it melts in your mouth. Maybe you choose pizza because it fills you up and makes you feel warm inside. Maybe there's a food that reminds you of the good times in your life or one which always makes you feel better when you're fed up.

Food can and does evoke lots of great feelings.

But what if your favourite comfort food also

* Uses up half a day's calorie allowance? * Pads out your hips and stomach with fat you don't want? * Clogs your arteries? * Gives you a huge hit of sugar which creates a craving for more sugary/starchy food? * Makes you feel full of regret rather than comfort when you've eaten it?

Is it such a friend to you then? Pretty false friend I would say!

If that's the case how about getting attached to a new comfort food?

Don't worry - it doesn't have to be boring like carrots and celery - no one was ever comforted by a carrot! Choose something absolutely delicious that you can make and keep in your freezer or have available to cook at a moments notice ready to cheer you up when you feel nothing but food will do the trick.

How about keeping some hearty warming soup in your freezer and eating it with crusty bread from ready-to-bake rolls? Or serving up childhood treats like boiled egg and toast or milky puddings made with low-fat milk? How about cooking some potato wedges with very little oil - and enjoying a mini feast without the calories of French Fries. No matter what you like there will be something healthy which works for you.

So forget pizza, ice cream and chocolate. They will always be false friends, making you feel worse after any close encounter.

Choose a new real comfort food that you can get ready at a moment's notice and enjoy something which is better for your waistline as well as your soul.

Copyright 2005, Janice Elizabeth Small

About the author:

Janice Elizabeth is a weight loss coach, slimming club owner and author of "The Diet Exit Plan". Her system promotes permanent healthy and AUTOMATIC weight loss through making small changes to your everyday habits. Request her FREE 15 page report "How to lose weight without dieting - 7 secrets the diet industry doesn't want you to know" at http://www.SimplySlimming.com TODAY!