I rolled out of bed this morning craving-less. I usually go to bed with some idea of what I want to eat in the morning but for some reason I didn’t think about it at all last night. I thought about making a green monster or some kefir w/ cereal or a bowl of oatmeal but nothing spoke to me. During the last couple of years I have made a concerted effort to eat what I crave. Back in the day, I spent so much time denying myself food that eventually I became fixated on certain foods and my cravings just got stronger and stronger.
I find that if I don’t honor my cravings, I’ll keep eating random foods until I finally eat what I originally wanted to eat. Furthermore, I’ll end up eating twice as much of that food than had I just ate it to begin with. That being said, you can’t possibly eat everything you crave just like you can’t buy everything you want. Sometimes it’s up to you to find substitutes that can do the job. For example, eating a baked apple with honey and brown sugar vs. an apple pie. Eventually, you may even find that you crave those substitutes more than the real deal.
How do you handle your cravings? Do you give into them or deny them? What substitutes have you found that satisfy your cravings?
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This mornin’ I drank a cup of coffee while I pondered what I wanted to eat. Then I ate a nuked pear w/ almond butter while still deciding.
Eventually it came to me–I wanted some french toast! I kept it light because I really wasn’t too hungry. (The pear must have expanded in my tummy).
I soaked a piece of whole wheat bread in egg substitute + cinnamon + stevia. Pan fried. Topped with pumpkin butter. Boy did it hit the spot!!
We went out to get my very last prezzie but found out that we would save money and hassle by buying it online. So my last prezzie is going to arrive Tuesday night–fingers crossed.
We wandered around Harris Teeter and I ate some bread samples to hold me over. After we got back, I went to the gym for 30 min. on the elliptical and 30 min. of incline-walkin.’ I dragggggged myself there but I was glad I did because I felt 100x better afterwards.
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For din din I made an eggplant, avocado, spinach, goat cheese pita with a side of TJ’s Butternut Squash Soup.
I put the eggpant slices in the toaster oven for about 10 min. while I prepped the rest of the ingredients. After stuffing the pita pocket, I put it back in the toaster oven for ~5 min.
It was gobbled up [too] quickly!
For dessert I had some pumpkin kefir. I just mixed a spoonful of pumpkin with ~1/2 cup of kefir and stevia. Mmmmm.
Now I’m sipping on SCSR tea and chompin’ on an apple.
We still have ~1 cup of pumpkin that needs to be used up. I’m afraid it’s going to spoil sitting in the fridge. What should I bake y’all!? (Asked Paula Deen style)
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
Missy, that pita is callin’ my name! You should make your own version of the Kashi pumpkin pie bars! I bet you could even work some kefir into that recipe and it’d be delicious.
I completely agree with honoring your cravings while still making healthy substitutes so you’re not eating apple pie every day (or you know, fill in the blank food). I love the a lot of the raw dessert/snack concoctions, because they seem to do just what you’re talking about. Or even cheater’s versions, like a pecan stuffed date to mimic pecan pie!
I’ve decided that when I fixate on it, I feel like I MUST have it. If I move on to other thoughts, I tend to forget about whatever it was that I though I needed. I have a huge sweet tooth after I eat dinner and if I can refocus and “forget” about it, then it’s not a big deal. It’s always when I focus on what I need to make or eat to satisfy said craving. Funny how it’s almost always mind over matter.
I hear good things about pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Or for a healthier treat, pumpkin granola (baking bites has a good one)?
I really need to find that sugar cookie tea before it’s gone!
I try to eat what I want most of the time. But the only time I have major cravings for not-so-healthy food is during that time of the month…otherwise I usually just want to eat carbs so I nibble on cereal or bread
Actually you’re featuring one of my very favorite substitutes.. Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride.. love love love it!
Lately I’ve been all about mixing pumpkin with greek yogurt, pumpkin spice and protein powder, then topping it with a warm fruit of some sort. I guess that’s another good craving substitute actually!
I’ve always made it a point to hunt down my cravings and fulfill them too! I get some pretty strong ones and won’t rest until I have them! If it’s something I can’t find or would be crazy unhealthy I try to think of WHY I’m craving it (salty? crunchy? chewy?) and think of a better fulfillment.
We’re using pumpkin tomorrow to make ravioli stuffing! Maybe you could make a squashish style pasta dish? Or the fallback of muffins!
I need to buy these holiday teas, they all sound so yummy.
I had my first kefir bowl today and IT WAS AWESOME. You have me sold lady. I mixed it with some greek yogurt, kashi and a few blueberries and it was TDF.
I used to do the same thing with cravings, so I do my best to listen to them now. Makes it much better in the end
YAY for eating what you crave!! i usually listen to my body..unless i need something filling and have to be somewhere that day!
Yes, eating what I crave is something I do probably too often, but you’re so right-I totally eat too much when I keep denying something. Maybe make pumpkin banana softserve, or throw in oatmeal in the morning?? I hate when I let pumpkin go bad!
if you’re not ready to use your pumpkin yet you can freeze it! I like to freeze mine in 1/4 cup chunks to defrost for oatmeal, or microwave pumpkin pies (http://thefoodiediaries.com/2009/10/23/quieres-sopa-un-giveaway/ — so good!) etc
and I totally agree about honoring cravings to an extent- I too will sometimes find myself going back for what I really wanted when I tried having something else first.
your pita pocket looks delicious.. & ilove your various uses of kefir
i need to buy some more for sure! & i think it is so important to honor cravings without going over board, i’m really trying to do that again.
make pumpkin spice granola!
I try to honor my cravings, because they are usually like an apple, or spinach, something healthy. And when I’m craving something not so much healthy, I try to honor that too.It’s so rare, and I believe my body that it actually needs something from that food.
I agree that when you more suppress your cravings more you crave them, so I always honor them. fortunately i don’t crave things often lately.
I feel the same way. I really do feel that our cravings are our way of our bodies telling us that it is in need of something. We are denying it something that it wants, and it we don’t listen to our cravings, they will just become more intense until eventually, we cave and binge.
French toast is what I have been craving for so long too! I’m actually getting ready to make some for Sunday Morning Breakfast!
Looks like you had a fab christmas! I try to eat healthier versions of the things I crave but that has been blown out of water the past few days! x x
I agree and try to eat reasonable portions of what I want and never end up dreaming about some kind of food “I can’t have”
You should eat what you crave. But we all fool up at many points. I am constantly eating more or eating things that I likely shouldn’t and I get sick afterward too…oh well, live and learn I guess.
Can’t find that sugar cookie stuff….:(
Wait a minute… does this mean we don’t get to find out what the last present is until Tuesday???
Thanks for the nice comment on the blog
Durham’s a small town so we’re bound to run into each other!
PUMPKIN SCONES!!!
I always honour my cravings. Like you, if I don’t I end up eating loads of random things and then end up eating what I wanted all along anyways.
I think you made a great point about cravings. While sometimes it’s very hard for me to decide what to eat, I definitely try to listen more than I used to. And those times when I just can’t decide, I will stick with basic foods, that I know I like, are good for me, and will nourish my body.
I found a great chocolate chip pumpkin brownie recipe on allrecipes.com, or you could try making some type of cookies!
I totally agree about honoring your cravings…ive been eating the same breakfasts for months and ive really fallen into a rut! :/ its just hard to break the cycle i guess its like automatically i wake up and put a pot of oatmeal on ugh. the french toast with pumpkin butter sounds DELICIOUS though
hope you have a great day
Ohhhh we will definitely be serving that tea at our bakery! (I imagine having a baked goods/beverage combo…I don’t know what you’re imagining!)
Ooh, I haven’t had french toast in such a long time. I’m just… too lazy… to pan fry things. o__o Your pita looks delicious, too—something else I haven’t had in forever! :/
I actually don’t really get cravings, except for nut butter. Weird, right? I never have any idea of what to eat in the mornings. I just go through a bunch of options in my head (mostly sweet vs. savory) and then pick one. Though if I want a savory breakfast, I normally have eggs.
Bake these:
Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies from VWAV
(Makes 4 dozen) *I always half the recipe
2 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/3 c. rolled oats
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 2/3 c. sugar
2/3 c. canola oil
2 tbsp. molasses
1 c. canned pumpkin
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbsp. ground flax (optional)
1 c. walnuts, finely chopped
1/2 c. raisins
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease two cookie sheets.
Mix together everything in a bowl. Drop by tablespoons on a cookie sheet. Press with finger or fork to flatten (they don’t spread very much, so you can place them close together). Bake for 16 minutes
I make these for my sister a lot because she loves them! They are sooooo good. You won’t be disappointed; and they’re vegan.
Enjoy!
pumpkin muffins are really yummy!
great eats girly
Hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
i’m all about honoring my cravings, and i love your perspective. i too used to be a very restrictive eater, so now i try to find lots of healthy ways to indulge. my fave substitutes are the ones that are similar in flavor to the thing i’m craving, like oatmeal with pumpkin pie, stevia, and pumpkin pie spice. yumm.
hope you enjoy the rest of your break! have you edited your goals for 2010 yet? i’m still hammering mine out
I let myself eat what I crave, just do it in moderation.
I forgot to tell you that I found the cranberry creme brulee kefir & it’s divine. Planning a greek & kefir bowl for the am
You’re such a good influence 
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