Food and Nutrition Services

 

Food Cravings

 

What are food cravings and what causes them? Webster's dictionary defines a craving as "an intense, urgent, or abnormal desire or longing." A food craving, then, can be considered an intense desire for a certain food or foods. The most common food cravings are pizza and sweets (like dessert foods or chocolate).

 

There are a number of theories why food cravings occur:

 

* The body may lack certain nutrients. Due to this, the brain will indicate what foods are required to replenish the missing nutrients.
* Hormone level changes. For example, women often report food cravings during pregnancy or just prior to their menstrual cycle.
* Food deprivation. For example, many dieters report food cravings.
* Smells. The smell of baking bread or chocolate chip cookies may trigger the desire for a sample taste.
* An eating regimen that lacks variety in taste or texture. In one study, subjects were asked to drink a sweet nutritional supplement and water for five days. At the end of the study, the subjects stated cravings for pizza and steak rather than sweet foods like ice cream and cookies.
* Emotions. Food may be used for comfort.

 

What to do when a craving strikes? Try one or a combination of the following:

 

1. Substitute one food for another. A glass of chocolate milk instead of a candy bar may satisfy your chocolate craving. This choice provides more nutritional value, too.

 

2. Give into your cravings. By giving in, the craving may be less likely to get out of control. If this is your strategy, REMEMBER portion control. For example, if ice cream is your craving, go out for an ice cream cone or buy a small container of ice cream instead of a gallon.

 

3. Don't be too restrictive. When you are attempting to modify your intake, setting short-term realistic goals and incorporating some of your favorite foods into your plans is the best avenue for success. If your eating plan allows you to attend special events that include food, you will find your plan to be more successful and the food cravings may even diminish.

 

4. When looking at emotionally based food cravings, you need to investigate the emotional triggers before you can begin to take care of the cravings. Once these emotional triggers are discovered, an eating regimen can be developed to help you over these food craving hurdles.

 

A Registered Dietitian is a health professional who can assist you with an individualized eating plan. If you are interested in talking with a Registered Dietitian, please call Marquette General Hospital, Department of Dietetics, at (906) 225-3221,
or toll-free, 1-800-562-9753, extension 3221, and ask to set up an appointment.