Once again, feeling like there’s not enough time in a single day. I haven’t been as productive as I planned on being, but I do have a new friend in my kitchen!
I’m so happy with my new purchase! My Magic Bullet bit the dust yesterday and since I rely so heavily on it, I needed something to replace it ASAP! So, today I went to the mall and purchased the all new Nutri Bullet!
Despite having the Vitamix on my “want list”, I think this was a smart purchase. It’s practical and I won’t cringe at the thought of cleaning it. It’s also nice and small to have on my already cramped counter tops 
I hope you’re all having a great Tuesday and have had a chance to enter my giveaway by now. I’m currently lounging in my Albion long sleeve as I prepare this post and fantasize about dinner…
What do I want for dinner?
Such a simple question, but something I’ve only learnt to ask myself since joining the IE challenge.
Of course I asked myself the same question many years ago, but after dealing with an eating disorder and only obeying meal plans and not my hunger cues for such a long time, that sort of question seems so new to me.
I have so many childhood memories of my Mom asking me “Meg, what do you feel like having for dinner tonight?”
I also remember actually taking time to think about my answer to her question…
Do I crave cheesy? Or do I crave something spicy? Do I need protein? Or do I want carbs? Do I want something cold like a salad? Or something warm like soup?
Throughout my childhood my answer to her question, “what do you want for dinner?”, was Kraft Dinner 9/10, but I always took time to think about what I actually felt like eating at that particular moment.
When paying attention to macro’s, hitting a certain number of calories, and following a meal plan, my cravings definitely got pushed to the side. You can say I didn’t listen to them at all.
Like I discovered and shared with you previously, many nights I would be having casein protein powder as a bedtime snack when I don’t truly enjoy it.
Now that I’m paying attention to my hunger cues and cravings, I’ve found out that I much rather have a bowl full of Greek yogurt topped with nuts as my bedtime snack.
(p.s. it’s 2% Greek yogurt! I’ll never be able to buy fat free yogurt again! 2% is so much better tasting and much more satisfying, too!)
Of course, not every day is the same, so I don’t have the same snack every night, because I definitely don’t have to, but I enjoy this particular snack much better than protein powder mixed with almond milk or water. Personally, that’s not the least bit satisfying to me anymore and I know this thanks to paying attention to my cravings
Food tastes so much better when you listen to your cravings.
I’ve sat down for dinner so many nights in the past to eat, but left feeling like I needed that “something else”… clearly, I wasn’t satisfied.
This is because I wasn’t listening to my cravings.
For an example, yesterday morning I felt like having pancakes, but for some reason, I made myself an omelette. The omelette was delicious. I made a 3 egg omelette with red peppers, onions, mushrooms, and ham. Absolutely delicious! But not the least bit satisfying! Why? I ignored my craving! If I would have had the pancakes I felt like having – the pancakes I was craving - I would have actually felt satisfied!
See, I’m not perfect, but I do live and learn because this morning when I woke up and identified my craving for two dippy eggs and bread, I went for it!
My eggs and bread tasted like the best eggs and bread I’ve ever had because it is what I craved. If I made myself pancakes this morning I wouldn’t have felt satisfied, though, because that’s not what I craved today.
Like I said, food tastes so much better if you’re eating what you want to be eating.
It takes time to hone in on your cravings, but you can do it if it’s a goal of yours.
At first the only things I could identify were “crunchy” or “doughy”, but now I’m getting better. Not perfect, but better.
As I wrote this post, I was able to identify my cravings in order to make my dinner:
- crunchy
- spicy
- a silky satisfying fat
So, I made this!
A shrimp salad with beans, salsa, avocado, and romaine.
The romaine satisfied my craving for crunch, the salsa took care of my craving for spice, and the avocado, well, I’ve been craving that all day and I knew my body was asking for the fat!
Just a few short weeks ago I was absolutely oblivious to my cravings and hunger cues. I would have never been able to pinpoint what my body was asking me to feed it for dinner like I did just now.
It takes time, but I’m determined to repair my relationship with food and eat intuitively from now on.
Not every day is going to go “perfectly”. I make mistakes like yesterday at breakfast, but we learn from those mistakes and make better choices for ourselves in the future.
Do you try to identify your cravings before preparing a meal?
Do you struggle with identifying your cravings?
Can you identify what you are craving at this very moment?
I hope you enjoyed today’s intuitive eating post! I would like to write another for tomorrow, so keep your eyes open!
Love you all!
Meg xo
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
I struggle with identifying my cravings a lot. Part of that comes from the fact that I struggle with emotional eating, so sometimes I think I’m craving something doughy or crunchy when really what my body needs is a relaxing cup of tea, a nice long run, or some meditation. This is definitely a goal of mine though, to figure out when my body is actually craving a certain kind of food and when I’m just feeling like I want to engage in emotional eating.
My mom always said growing up that if you were craving something in particular it was because your body needs a certain nutrient. I think that’s probably pretty spot on, so this is a huge goal of mine.
Maybe when you think you’re craving food, but are not sure because you MIGHT just need to run, meditate, etc. have yourself think “am I actually hungry?”
Let me know if that helps! xo
I try to listen to my cravings but sometimes, as soon as i walk into the kitchen, I will start snacking on the first thing that I see! I need to work on taking the time to honor my cravings….and prepare the meal!
I definitely am guilty of this, too. It’s hard NOT to do this, but I’m working on in. I just try to be mindful and pull myself away from the action. I know food will taste better if I actually take a few extra minutes to prepare something I actually want. So, slow down, do some self talk, and hopefully you can move past this
<3
That shrimp salad looks amazing! That’s what I want for dinner now. With cheese.
I typically base my meals around what I’m craving/’intuitively need’. Some days I feel like I need a lot of fat, other days I need more carbs. I used to think I *had* to have a protein/fat/carb all on one plate, and then I wondered why I had heartburn & a gut ache after. No more! Some days my meals are as simple as a big bowl of steamed veggies + butter, or some crazy waffle concoction. And then theres emotional cravings…last night I ate a massive ice cream cone even though I wasn’t hungry … but I felt like I was going to die if I didn’t have ice cream. 
What is it with women and sugar?!
Eating because we are hungry and eating to enjoy are two different things, but they are both part of IE
<3
I LOVE reading about your successes – it inspires me to keep going! Time to start thinking about what I want for dinner — yours looks so good!!
Identifying cravings and HONORING those cravings is exactly what I’ve been focusing on recently as well. It’s a weird feeling after spending so long letting my brain control what food I eat, rather than my body. But, it’s amazing. Our bodies are smart and they’ll tell us exactly what they need!
I was actually thinking about you on Sunday! I went out to lunch with my mom and sister (they came to visit me) and I usually order a veggie burger salad at the restaurant we went to. As I looked at the menu, all I kept thinking was that I wanted a grilled cheese. SO random. I haven’t ordered a grilled cheese in years. But, I listened to my craving and ordered it. Oh my goodness- it was delicious! Exactly what I wanted and I felt so satisfied. (:
Thanks for another amazing IE post, pretty lady!
Aw I feel so special to be thought of <3
I love you so much girl! So happy you ordered that grilled cheese! I bet, since you craved it, it was the best grilled cheese you ever had!
I love you so much
I think itz really hard to honor cravings because I feel like I “should” be eating this or that. I also have a hard time saying no to food that is in front of me even if I’m not necessarily cravin it. Itz on the opposite end of the spectrum I suppose.
I have a lot of those “I should” thoughts, too, but I’m working on pushing those away. It’s tough being in the environment we are in. There are so many “shoulds”, but the only “should” we need to make sure we are doing is listening to our bodies
They are smarter than any other message out in the media!
Right now I’m craving bagels, but just a few night ago I was craving milk like no one’s business (and I NEVER drink milk). Calcium, anyone?
I’m conflicted about this. I think that part of ED recovery and having a more normal attitude toward food is being able to settle with something that isn’t “exactly” what you want at that moment. For example, sure maybe one wants a ham and cheese sandwich when they get out of class for lunch, but what they have is a package of poptarts or ramen. That’s what they have to eat and just because it isn’t exactly what they want doesn’t mean they aren’t eating intuitively. They are hungry so it’s time to eat, so therefore they eat. I totally get what you’re saying about thinking about what you want to eat and listening to that…but I think that life constrains our choices and that can be eating intuitively as well
Just some “food” for thought <3
Definitely something we’ve touched on throughout the challenge.
Some times it is inevitable to eat something we don’t fully crave, which is totally fine. Not once did I say you ALWAYS have to be eating what you crave. What I am saying is that I am paying attention to my cravings when I eat at home, go to restaurants, etc. as opposed to eating what I think I “should eat” or what’s on my meal plan….
I can’t wait to hear what you think of your new NutriBullet. I used a Magic Bullet throughout college, but it also bit the dust after a few years of heavy use. I now have a Ninja blender that I like a lot
You’re so right about 2% yogurt. I remember the first time I tried it, I felt like I was eating ice cream! It’s so creamy compared to the nonfat stuff.
i absolutely struggle with this i start nibbling on like 10 different things just trying to figure out what I want but can’t so then I just make some sort of crazy hummus salad with everything I have in the fridge.
Right now I am eating some really good food out I was craving – creamed spinach with turmeric cashew cream, cauliflower puree with toasted buckwheat, grain free veggie bread, and miso mushrooms all topped with shallots, cilantro, and toasted seasame seeds.
My boyfriend caught me nibbling this weekend. He said “you need something more substantial than that Meg”, but I was nibbling because I was trying to figure out what I want; however, when I do this I fill up that void and don’t feel very hungry any more.
It’s important to just take some time and make sure you’re getting some nutrient dense foods in your mouth rather than just filling the void with some other foods!
p.s. what you were eating sounds like something I would LOVE – yum!
I’ve been doing so well at eating what I’m craving…. and I’ve been eating a lot more! Guess my body needs it right now??
Exactly!
Oh, I am so in love with my Magic Bullet. I like how you still have the bullet theme going on.
I’m definitely trying to honor my intuition more lately. Surprisingly enough, your dinner preferences matched mine EXACTLY. I know sometimes it can get frustrating when I just don’t know what I want and my boyfriend doesn’t care, but he’s usually good about my thinking process. And for that, I’m thankful!
This is exactly why I hate packing a lunch for school because I never know what I’ll want when lunch time comes
That’s when it becomes tough and it’s OK NOT to eat what we crave ALL the time in situations like those <3
I should probably take on this challenge but I wouldn’t even know where to start! My body knows nothing anymore so I just eat whatever I have and hope for the best! haha! I’m definitely further along than I used to be because I’m not “afraid” of as many foods but I definitely do NOT know what I’m hungry for anymore. Congrats on intuitive eating! I wish I had some sort of mini blender because I would love to be able to make smoothies without having a huge mess to clean up!
Honestly, babe. This challenge would be amazing for you! I promise, I was so lost and out of tune with my body, too, but Jamie and the challenge she puts on is AMAZING! I’m here to answer any questions you have <3
Food tastes better when you listen to your cravings. You. Are. A. Genius. That is all.
xo Tara
I. Love. You.
that is all
Love reading your posts about IE I’m finding it all very interesting indeed and especially the thoughts you are having and struggling to really tell what you are craving. I applaud you for this
Ahhhhhh thanks Jan
<3
You’re doing amazing, girl!!! And you’re are so right, it doesn’t matter how delicious something is, if it’s not what you’re craving, you won’t be satisfied!
Thanks babe!!
Love this, Meg. Honoring your hunger and cravings is so important and realizing when you didn’t is important to, I think you’re doing such a great job. Our bodies know what they need, we just have to listen.
My cravings are usually for something sweet. I have a huge sweet tooth. I try to create something that will satisfy my craving while staying on track so I don’t go overboard. Sometimes though I do have problems identifying my cravings which can be frustrating! I’ve taken your challenge of intuitive eating into consideration and I love it!
yay!!
love this post babe!! definitely something i’ve learned to practice over the last year! like you said, something we do without a thought as children but then start following strict ideas and throw it all out of the window! there’s no reason to not eat clean AND eat what you want! xoxo
YES! Oh how i wish we could always channel our inner child! although i have a feeling i’d be lacking in the veggie department if i did. LOL!
hahaha and I would be filled up with pasta
I am working SO hard on not just eating ‘what I always do,’ and thinking about what I really WANT. Sometimes it IS ‘what I always eat’ but last night I had a big (for me) moment where I broke with tradition, no matter how slightly. I’m not sure if I’m nervous about it not making me feel the same way (or filling me up the same, in the morning) or if it is me still overcoming the mental calorie counting…but I’m making progress.
yay for progress! so proud of you! tell me more! xo
love u!!
Seriously Meg, I absolutely LOVED this! You hit the nail on the head for me with this post! Only recently did I start to realize that I was ignoring my cravings in lieu of what I thought I “should” eat…even if my craving was healthy! One night, I was overcome with this sudden intense craving for an apple, but then the “thoughts” came…I had a really light dinner…I haven’t had enough protein today…it’s getting close to bedtime so I really should eat something more substantial that will hold me over until the morning. So what did I do? I mixed up a bowl of pumpkin puree and peanut flour and topped it with some multigrain cereal (one of my FAVORITE combos). And how did I feel after I finished it? MISERABLE! It was unsatisfying and entirely too much food for me at the time, but I finished it ALL because I “thought” it was what my body needed. THAT is the night I realized that I needed to make some changes! I’ve been doing a lot more “listening” lately and, like you said, it takes some time to really hone in on those cravings…I’m not perfect, but I’m getting there!
PS, that salad looks amazing! Love the little shrimpies!!
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