To use your analogy, bodhimind, if one has a craving for "unhealthy" food, then one should examine the craving. Perhaps one's perspective as to what is "unhealthy" food is incorrect. For instance, about 40 years ago I had taken up the raw food diet system. I did so, because salads were very appealing at the time. A salad is good for us.
At that time I met a number of raw fooders all of whom were sneaking a Big Mac on the side. To me they were not listening to the needs of their body. They probably needed meat, or at least eggs, and possibly dairy.
At that time I had periodic cravings for bread, so I met those cravings with multigrain and whole grain organic breads, because I figured the body needed something in grain.
I have since come to learn that bread made in a healthy way (whole grain, multi-grain, and organic) is low carb, and has friendly flora in it from the yeast. I now believe that a truly healthy way to prepare grains for consumption is to first sprout them, which is known as malting. Then that malted grain should be fermented, then the liquid removed from the grain, then that grain can is made into bread, or other food items, it becomes a low carb source of friendly flora. Fermented grains will also have higher protein content and those proteins are likely to be more complete.
So, being contemplatives we must be self-aware. So we examine the cravings, and find healthy solutions for those cravings.
Let us say, you have sexual craving. OK, all creatures have a powerful biological drive to reproduce. Humans reproduce via a lengthy and drawn out mating ritual called marriage. So, if one cannot overcome one's craving for reproductive behavior, then one must seek a healthy solution to the reproductive urge, such as mating with someone who has shared values, and whom will help raise healthy children, and whom you can live with for decades.
