I am prone to cravings. In fact, I think I have craved almost everything at some point in my life from meat to broccoli to chocolate cake. I used to give into my cravings every time especially those for sugar, which have always been strongest.
The food industry sets us up for daily cravings. I’m thinking in particular of the commercials that plaster juicy steaks, crispy french fries and tall, creamy milkshakes across the TV screen. Or the NYC delis that place scrumptious black and white cookies in the storefront window. I have a weakness for those! Even White Castle’s slogan, “What you crave” is stating in straightforward terms that their food feeds a craving. Simply put, it’s difficult to go anywhere without being bombarded by sensationalistic images of food. Unhealthy food.
How to deal? I used to feed my cravings — especially the unhealthy ones — and after I would be overwhelmed by a sense of guilt or I would feel sluggish and sick to my stomach. Even worse, I would crave more of the same.
Recently, I’ve begun to look at my cravings differently. Cravings are my body’s way of speaking to me and my body is usually right. It’s my head that does me in at times. So when I have a craving, I listen to my body and then I think.
If it’s a craving for a whole food like broccoli or avocado or meat, I feed it. I’m a vegetarian so I don’t actually eat meat, but it usually means that my body needs more protein. So I have some fish or eggs. However, when I crave something sweet or fried, I challenge that craving. My thought process goes something like this:
When: What time of day is it? My sweet cravings usually come after lunch or dinner or around 3 -4 p.m. It helps to indetify a pattern.
Why: Why am I craving it? Am I stressed at work? Do I need human connection? Have I been eating enough? Am I tired? Am I sad or angry? Identifying the emotion behind a craving can be powerful. The best advice I’ve heard is not to eat anything when you are feeling emotional and wait for the feelings tied to the craving to pass. The craving probably will too.
How: How will I feel? Often, I think about how I will feel after I eat it and that is incentive enough to make me think twice.
What: What am I going to do about it? There are a number of ways to deal with a craving. Just a few, include: Set a specific amount of time and sit through it to see if it will pass. Drink water (I like to sip hot water). Use a tongue scraper twice a day before brushing your teeth. Take a walk. Breathe or meditate. Exercise.
And when all else fails … just give in and move on!
Finally, remember cravings don’t always have to be for food. Cravings for fresh air, spirituality, exercise and sex are just as common so tune into those too.
What do you crave?
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