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< Ready to Quit Smoking?
Many smokers feel the need to smoke after eating. Certain foods, especially spicy or sweet foods, can increase your urge to smoke. Your desire to smoke may depend on whether you are eating alone or with others. Smoking urges may be stronger at different mealtimes — sometimes more at lunch, sometimes at breakfast, or sometimes at dinner.
Smoking and eating are both ways to meet certain needs — comfort, relaxation, time out, or socialization. That's why eating and drinking are often strong triggers to smoking. Once you pinpoint situations that trigger your urge to smoke — certain foods, certain mealtimes, certain places — you can make a plan to handle these triggers.
Did you know?
Nicotine stops hunger pangs in your stomach for as long as an hour. When you stop smoking, you may feel hungrier. Food often tastes better after you stop smoking, so you may have a bigger appetite.
We're here to help you
Your health coach or group leader can help you to identify your triggers. He or she can also help you develop a quit plan that's right for you. Please call the MyHealth Ready to Quit Line at 1-800-807-0751 for information about quitting or to learn about our tobacco cessation services. Your call will be answered by a health coach.
Fight the urge
- Know what kinds of foods increase your urge to smoke and stay away from them.
- Leave the table as soon as you've finished eating. Consider going for a walk.
- Put something else in your mouth after meals — a toothpick, pretzel stick, peppermint stick, gum, cinnamon stick, carrot, or celery stick.
- Brush your teeth or use mouthwash right after meals.
- Sit in the nonsmoking section in restaurants.
- Consider using a tobacco cessation medication to help reduce uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. You and your doctor can decide which product might be best for you.
- REMEMBER, an urge to smoke lasts only 3 to 5 minutes.
Find out more:
< Ready to Quit Smoking?
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