It never fails that I’ll eat reasonably all day and then for whatever reason, come 10pm, I want to dig into my kids Halloween candy for chocolate and caramel. OR, it’s crunchy potato chips with french onion dip I’ll randomly crave. When I was carrying our son, I’d stop at a convenient mart and buy beef jerky. (Don’t judge). Obviously my body was telling me it wanted something – but what?
Our food cravings are real and they are telling us our bodies are lacking certain things. If you know what your body is really craving, you can try to substitute a healthier option for that craving. After doing a little digging on Pinterest (we have a pinterest page, btw) and finding an article written on Refinery 29 by Lauren Conrad, I found the below info. Maybe I wanted beef jerky for the sodium and what I could have eaten instead is a tuna fish sandwich. Hmmm. See what you think.
If you’re craving salty foods…
“It means your body needs chloride, which is essential in order for your body to maintain healthy digestion and keep your electrolyte levels in check, according to Nutritional Wellness. Avoid super salty junk food like potato chips and eat goat’s milk yogurt or fish instead. Make a tuna fish sandwich or salmon salad for lunch with goat’s yogurt as a snack the next time you have a salt craving”. I’ve also reached for a handful of salted almonds (about 10) which gives me a bit of sodium and a lot of protein and fiber.
If you’re craving sweets…
“It means your body really needs chromium, carbon phosphorous, sulfur, and tryptophan. Get these by filling up on, fresh fruit, cheese and sweet potatoes when you have a sweet tooth. This craving may also mean you’re tired, according to Shape.com. Evaluate how much you’re sleeping lately if you find yourself wanting sweets. Instead of heading for the chocolate cake, take a nap if you can. Or, go for a walk to boost your energy levels”. I’ve found eating a juicy Apple Crisp apple or some mandarin oranges has helped curb my sweet tooth!
If you’re craving caffeine…
“It means your body needs salt and iron. To get these nutrients the healthy way, eat lean meats like chicken or turkey, eggs, or black cherries, surprisingly. If you can, a great option here would be to make an omelet with turkey and veggies, with a handful of black cherries on the side. Craving caffeine can also mean you’re actually just really thirsty or dehydrated, according to Huffington Post. Drink an entire glass of water before you reach for that second (or third) cup of coffee — you might realize you don’t even need it”. This works! I have a bad habit of drinking coffee all morning, especially in the colder months. When I stop and drink 16oz of water, I no longer crave the coffee.
If you’re craving french fries, soda, and pizza…
OH , this is my FAVORITE “food group” of all time. I can turn down any sweet but the above is sooo hard. When you crave these items (and other junk food), “it means your body needs calcium. Instead, fix a kale salad with steamed broccoli, chicken, breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. It might not sound quite as good as those French fries at first, but it will leave you feeling way better, not to mention guilt-free”.
If you’re craving carbs…
“It means your body needs nitrogen, which is found in high-protein foods like fish, meat, nuts, and beans. Eat a turkey burger, a handful of almonds, or a black bean burrito bowl (black beans, corn, pico de gallo, guacamole and brown rice). You might also be craving carbs because you’re trying to cut them out of your diet completely. If this is the reason, make sure you’re eating every food group in moderation to prevent a big, unplanned carb-fest that will leave you feeling way worse”.
Did you learn anything new? What foods do you crave the most? How do you fight the cravings? Let us know!
– S.O.
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