Last of the cravings!

Welcome and I hope you’ve all had a great week! For the last blog of the week we will talk about other types of cravings that involve textures, liquids, etc.

What texture or consistency are you craving?

When craving something creamy, consider if you’ve had a lot of bread, crackers or other baked flour products recently. When eaten in excess, these foods create feelings of dryness and stagnation, and can also make us feel stuck, hard and irritable. When we reach that state of imbalance, we very often crave creamy, relaxing foods, such as ice cream, milk products, or oily foods. Try eating porridge made from whole grains, such as amaranth or brown rice. You can also make cream of broccoli soup, or cream of watercress soup, and use oatmeal rather than cream to get the consistency you desire. You might be surprised on how tasty you can make this!

If you are craving chips or pretzels, it may be the crunch that you actually desire. I think when the body wants crunch it’s probably because you’re not chewing enough. The act of chewing actually enhances digestion. Instead of grabbing the chemicalized, artificial snack products, try satisfying your crunchy cravings with raw carrots and celery, or organic versions of potato chips and hard pretzels without added sugar. And don’t forget to chew all your foods to assure proper digestion of your food.

Are you craving something moist or a liquid?

When craving liquids, ask yourself if you’ve been eating an excessive amount of salty foods or dry, baked flour products. Do you feel dry or tight? Are you thirsty? Many physical problems, including headaches, urinary problems and kidney stones, are the result of chronic dehydration. People typically just don’t drink enough water. Instead of quenching thirst with sugary and caffeinated beverages, try drinking water at least three times a day. Put a bottle or a cup of water on your desk and sip it throughout the day. As you drink, notice how your body responds. If you suddenly awaken to how thirsty you are, then you know you’ve been ignoring your thirst. If you don’t want the water, you will feel your body resist it, signifying that you are well hydrate.

Are you craving something crispy and dry?

If you are craving crisp and dry, you may be drinking too many liquids. If this is the case, try to keep away from chips because they are rich in fats, especially saturated and trans-fats. Avoid crackers that are highly processed and will elevate both glucose and insulin levels. To fulfill your craving for crisp and dry foods, choose rice cakes, high-quality crackers without oil or sugar-free sesame sticks. You can also bake your own potato chips, or sweet potato chips, which are much

healthier than the store-bough versions.

Are you craving a light or heavy food?

If you crave heavy foods, ask yourself if you’ve been eating a lot of salads or fruit. Are you cold, especially your hands and feet? Salads, fruit and other raw foods make the body feel light. They also cool the body and may give rise to cravings for heavier, warming foods, such as fish, beef or hard cheese. Fish is rich in protein, low in fat and high in omega-3 fatty acids, which boost immunity and prevent heart disease.

Sometimes when you’re not hungry enough for a meal, but need something light to eat, you’ll go for a snack. The snack food shelves at supermarkets and even health food stores are full of tantalizing items chock full of sugar. When you’re craving a light snack or meal, why not eat some raw or steamed vegetables instead of a sugary snack? If you are hungry and nibbling on a raw carrot doesn’t satisfy, try a handful of trail mix, an avocado sandwich or a fruit smoothie.

Are you craving a nutritious food?

When I check in with my body to see what I am actually craving, I often realize that what I really want is something nutritious, something of substance, especially when I am working hard and utilizing the nutrition my body is getting from my diet. This craving also happens when I travel and my routine of eating home-cooked food becomes unavailable. At these times, I long for plain vegetables and simple foods.

Hope you’re starting to flourish!

~Coach Stephanie