Take the scenic route home.
The science:
A new study shows that people who can see greenery (like grass and trees) from their homes have fewer and weaker cravings compared to those who can’t. While past research has found exercising outdoors has the same effect, this is the first to make the connection between cravings and passive exposure to nature.
Expert insight:
Cortisol levels drop when you’re surrounded by nature, says Naomi Sachs, Ph.D., a postdoctoral associate in the department of design and environmental analysis at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Stress often triggers the desire to eat, so anything that helps you relax will make your cravings (for things like chocolate and caffeine, two things included in the study) less intense.
You can get the benefits from looking out a window onto green spaces, but you’ll get more from actually being outside.
The bottom line:
Reduce cravings by spending your break in a park or commuting via the scenic route instead of major roads, Sachs says. The more your senses are touched by nature, the stronger the impact will be.