“What should I do if I get a craving?”

This may be one of the most common questions we get asked at Prototype Nutrition and it’s a great question!

We all have a general association with “ food cravings” but what exactly are they and why do we get them?

Craving is defined as a powerful desire for something. We can crave particular types of food, your kids may crave attention, we may crave recognition… you get the point!

As it relates to food if we get cravings for certain types of foods or specific food options, does that mean you’re addicted to it??

The short answer… NO!

Cravings are very normal and the best way to handle a craving is to eat! The most common types of foods that we may start to crave are things that are sweet and things that are salty. Were you ever just sitting there, staring into space, and thought “wow, I could really go for a (insert food)?” Yeah… that’s a craving. 

You may be reading this and are subconsciously thinking “but why do I always crave ‘bad’ foods?”

Our body (more so our brain) is pretty smart and learns from what we’ve given it in the past and it also learns when we don’t give it the things that it needs. You may crave sweet or salty foods because your body understands this is a quick source of calories. 

If you’re not eating enough food or you’re restricting a particular macronutrient source (carbohydrates as an example) or you’re not getting enough sleep, these are all common reasons why we may get a craving. Your body wants energy and you’re not giving it enough. 

You’ve probably heard that you should fight your cravings or replace them with something better. Well, I’m here to tell you the opposite! The reason why is when we forbid ourselves from eating or satisfying that craving (no matter how big or small), it will only continue to compound until we can’t take it anymore. This is how binge eating occurs and this is how we start to develop unrealistic and unsustainable eating habits.

The solution is to give yourself permission to eat. At Prototype Nutrition, we don’t believe in restrictive diets as they are unrealistic to maintain for longevity.

It’s truly a powerful thing to have control over what you put into your body. If you’re craving chocolate then give yourself permission to have it! 

If you have a balance with your nutrition where you are eating lots of nutrient-dense foods, fueling your body for exercise, and forming good relationships with food, the guilt of satisfying your cravings shouldn’t be a problem. Having a piece of candy or a cookie won’t ruin your progress if that’s what you need. You can fit these things into your plan and still reach your goals.

You can take control of our cravings! 

Cravings are simply your body trying to communicate with you. It’s actually a good thing to have them because we learn what our body needs.

So next time you have a craving allow yourself to have what you’re craving and do so in a mindful way. Save room in your nutrition plan to allow for that craving to be part of your day. Maybe it’s your evening treat so it’s something to look forward to as you wind down from the day.

Your nutrition plan shouldn’t be built on you only eating what you crave, but your plan should take into account how to satisfy those cravings so you can enjoy your life!

In my next post, I’ll talk about how to be more mindful of your eating so please stay tuned and never hesitate to reach out for questions or help if you’ve like to work together.

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