user17494: I've become interested in Buddhism a couple of months ago, and I try to meditate daily, which had very positive effects on my anxiety and overall feeling so far. 
I am prone to feeling overwhelming cravings for unhealthy, sugary food. Although the intensity of the cravings has been reduced since I started meditating, it is still a significant problem. I wonder if there is any specific practice which could help with that. I tried reading texts about the elimination of sensual cravings, but unfortunately they all focused primarily on sexual desire and not on craving for food.
If someone could enlighten me on the topic, I would be very thankful. :)

user2282: Sexual desire and the craving for food both fall under the umbrella domain of sensual desire, which can be countered with various different strategies as highlighted in MN 20

user8157: Sexual desire and the craving for food both fall under the umbrella domain of sensual desire, which can be countered with the strategy highlighted in MN 19, namely, "This leads to my own affliction/harm".

user11674: Glad to hear that meditation had good results on your anxiety. Keep up the good work!
As already mentioned, there are various suttas that deal with sensual cravings such as  MN 19 & MN 20.
You can periodically reflect on the advantages & disadvantages of your food craving (both short & long term). Vividly imagine the costs of it.
Then, you also better be prepared that cravings might still arise. When they arise I have a couple of steps that might help you:

Recognize the urge/thought & perhaps spot the location in your body. If you're not aware of the urge, you're much more likely to give in.
Realize that it's not a life necessity to give in immediately (this gives you a break from the thought-action fusion)
Keep in mind that you have a choice: To act upon your urge or to refrain. Here it is important that eating sometimes chocolate etc. might not be in conflict with your long-term goals & as humans we often also have short-term goals/desires that want to be met. Be specific with your goals & guard yourself against rationalizations
If you decided to refrain, counter any "positives for giving in"/"negatives for not giving in" & keep in mind of your goal. This step is particularly important so that you balance your thoughts so that they have a lesser hold on your decision-making.
Don't spend too much times with the 4. point and accept that urges will reside for a while in the mind, and will fade if you allow them to be there without resistance or clinging. In a word "let them be".


17494: <p>I've become interested in Buddhism a couple of months ago, and I try to meditate daily, which had very positive effects on my anxiety and overall feeling so far. </p>

<p>I am prone to feeling overwhelming cravings for unhealthy, sugary food. Although the intensity of the cravings has been reduced since I started meditating, it is still a significant problem. I wonder if there is any specific practice which could help with that. I tried reading texts about the elimination of sensual cravings, but unfortunately they all focused primarily on sexual desire and not on craving for food.</p>

<p>If someone could enlighten me on the topic, I would be very thankful. :)</p>
 2282: <p>Sexual desire and the craving for food both fall under the umbrella domain of sensual desire, which can be countered with various different strategies as highlighted in <a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn20/en/bodhi" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN 20</a></p>
 8157: <p>Sexual desire and the craving for food both fall under the umbrella domain of sensual desire, which can be countered with the strategy highlighted in <a href="https://suttacentral.net/mn19/en/bodhi" rel="nofollow noreferrer">MN 19</a>, namely, "<em>This leads to my own affliction/harm</em>".</p>
 11674: <p>Glad to hear that meditation had good results on your anxiety. Keep up the good work!</p>

<p>As already mentioned, there are various suttas that deal with sensual cravings such as  MN 19 &amp; MN 20.</p>

<p>You can periodically reflect on the advantages &amp; disadvantages of your food craving (both short &amp; long term). Vividly imagine the costs of it.</p>

<p>Then, you also better be prepared that cravings might still arise. When they arise I have a couple of steps that might help you:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Recognize the urge/thought &amp; perhaps spot the location in your body. If you're not aware of the urge, you're much more likely to give in.</p></li>
<li><p>Realize that it's not a life necessity to give in immediately (this gives you a break from the thought-action fusion)</p></li>
<li><p>Keep in mind that you have a choice: To act upon your urge or to refrain. Here it is important that eating sometimes chocolate etc. might not be in conflict with your long-term goals &amp; as humans we often also have short-term goals/desires that want to be met. Be specific with your goals &amp; guard yourself against rationalizations</p></li>
<li><p>If you decided to refrain, counter any "positives for giving in"/"negatives for not giving in" &amp; keep in mind of your goal. This step is particularly important so that you balance your thoughts so that they have a lesser hold on your decision-making.</p></li>
<li><p>Don't spend too much times with the 4. point and accept that urges will reside for a while in the mind, and will fade if you allow them to be there without resistance or clinging. In a word "let them be".</p></li>
</ol>
