Whether it’s sneaking downstairs late at night to have those last few slices of leftover pizza or giving into the urge to stop at McDonald’s on the way home, we’ve all experienced food temptations at one time or another. Normally, it’s perfectly fine to give into occasional indulgences.

If you’ve recently had weight loss surgery, however, it’s not such as good idea to do anything that could have you going back to old eating habits. Luckily, there are some things you can do to avoid food temptations as you adjust to a healthier lifestyle.

Change Your Mental Focus
This is sometimes easier said than done, but there are some techniques you can use to shift your thoughts from foods you shouldn’t be eating to other things. One method is what’s called mindful meditation, which basically involves taking a deep breath and getting yourself back in the moment so you don’t act on impulses. Another technique is to visualize your goals and remind yourself that giving into food temptations will only make it harder to get to where you want to be.

Get Rid of In-Home Food Temptations Before Surgery
There’s something to be said for out of sight, out of mind. Before you have your weight loss procedure, set aside some time to go through your home to get rid of food you know you won’t be able to have after your weight loss surgery. If you have other people in your household without weight issues, politely ask them not to bring certain foods into the home while you are still adjusting to your new diet habits.

Keep Healthy Foods Handy
Food temptations often occur because you see something on the table or when you open the fridge. Reduce your odds of grabbing for something loaded with empty calories by putting healthy things like seasonal fruits, yogurt cups, and bite-size veggies in places where they can easily be reached. Further reduce your odds of overindulging by cooking your own meals and making your own healthy lunches when you’re able to get back to work following your surgery. If you need some help changing your cooking methods, consider taking a healthy cooking class in your area.

Opt for Healthy Alternatives
You may reach a point where you can have certain comfort foods or favorite snacks in moderation. The problem here is that sometimes it’s not easy to stop yourself after having a small serving or a single slice. Therefore, a better option is to find healthy substitutes for treats you know you shouldn’t have. For instance, you might consider the following substitutions:

• Air-popped popcorn instead of potato chips
• Dried fruit or trail mix instead of candy
• Dried fruit or trail mix instead of candy
• Frozen bananas or Greek yogurt instead of ice cream

Lastly, avoid doing any post-surgery grocery shopping on an empty stomach. Research shows that people tend to make unhealthy food choices when shopping with a rumbling belly. Instead, treat yourself to a light, healthy filling snack or meal before you head to your local grocery store. Foods that tend to be the most filling also happen to be ones that are often recommended for weight loss surgery patients – things like fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, beans and lentils, and yogurt.