Hey there! Cravings often happen. However, instead of fighting them off (and probably feeling miserable in the process), many experts in the field say you should give in to them—and enjoy every bite!
Chances are we all. But hey, cravings happen. Instead of fighting them off (and probably feeling miserable in the process), experts say you should give in to them—and enjoy every bite.
“Why should we follow our cravings, you might ask. Well, permitting yourself a chance to gratify a desire of a specific food here or there will actually help keep you healthier in the long run."
“When we allow ourselves to enjoy a little of what it is we really crave as part of an overall healthy diet, we can avoid feeling deprived or like we have to white-knuckle it to be healthy,” says New York City registered dietitian Jessica Cording.
It also makes you have a much less chance of giving in to over-indulging for example an entire carton of ice cream or bag of cookies, because you’ve denied yourself far too long.
Trading in another food every time for what you really want isn't is not the best option, either,
Cording says substitutions often leads one to overeating the substitute... Since it isn’t really what you wanted in the first place. (See the trend here?) “Something I see pretty often is clients eating so many ‘light’ versions of something, that when you look at it calorie-for-calorie, they may as well have just had the original thing they were craving,” Cording says.
She also adds, many low-fat versions of foods you crave, like cheese, is a “waste of time” unless you genuinely prefer the flavor or texture of the lighter product.
“As a general rule of thumb, I think the important thing is to tune into your craving,” she says. That means figuring out where it came from and what it is that you’re craving about it (are you stressed and wanting a comfort food because you remember it from childhood?
Or do you want a bacon cheeseburger because you’re on the second day of your period when your body likely needs more iron?).
Just food for thought! (No pun intended. 😉)
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