"Carpe Snackem"

The other day, I went to Subway for lunch and got a 6-inch turkey on wheat with all the veggies (minus the sauce) and a dash of pepper and oregano. On the side, a bag of Baked! Lay's potato chips. I don't eat potato chips a lot, but for some reason, I can't get through a nice sub without them. And as I was enjoying said chips, I happened to notice a little blurb in the bottom right corner of the bag.

Carpe Snackem #2: You have goals. And, you've got cravings. Finally, a snack that honors both.

This is a marketing campaign that's been going on for quite some time now, but I hardly ever pay attention to the sayings—probably because I hardly ever eat potato chips. But I quite enjoyed this one because I think it speaks to a bigger picture.

We all have fitness goals and we all know that our diets play a huge role in achieving those goals. So it's absolutely essential that we eat smart as often as we possibly can. But, you know, we're human. And we humans crave things that aren't necessarily good for us. Like potato chips. Sure, we shouldn't eat them, but obsessing over avoiding them FOREVER is just about as unhealthy as the chips themselves. So give in on occasion. Choose a bag that honors your goals and your cravings.

In other words, pick the healthiest potato chips (or whatever) on the shelf, then enjoy eating a single delicious serving. I mean, really enjoy that serving. You'll satisfy your craving, and you'll save yourself some sanity along the way. Just be sure, however, that you aren't satisfying your unhealthy cravings all too frequently. You know why. And remember— even healthy foods get unhealthy when they're eaten excessively.

Question: What unhealthy food item do you crave (and consume) on occasion?