Comfort food: What to do when cravings strike

Indulging in a comfort food when the blues or stress have you down is pretty common behavior, but if you find yourself indulging frequently and aren't balancing those treats with exercise, then that comfort food may soon lead to an uncomfortable amount of weight gain.

Health experts say that people like comfort food because it takes them back to being comforted as children, and because foods loaded with fat and sugar have a pleasant "mouthfeel" that makes us want to eat them. In addition, when you're on a diet that restricts these kinds of foods, you may be more likely to crave them.

Figure out where comfort foods fit into your diet and how to make healthy substitutions for your favorite treats by watching this slideshow at iVillage. You can decide whether the treat fits into your calorie budget, whether it's worth the splurge, or whether you should just walk away.