Food journaling has taught me to be really aware when cravings arise. I ask all sorts of questions of myself – what is causing my craving? Is it emotional hunger? Is it physical hunger? How strong is the craving? Would yielding to the cravings actually satisfy it? And if not, what tools do I have in place to deal with the urge to eat?
These are just a few of the things I think about when a desire for food comes up. And I think about these things A LOT because I crave food A LOT. Just today I remember craving home fries with cheese, raspberry linzer cookies, tahini sauce, dark chocolate covered pretzels, chips and salsa, and pomegranate juice – all in a matter of 2 hours.
I noticed something interested about these cravings, though. When they arise, if I take a moment to really focus on them and remember what it is like to enjoy them, I find quite a bit of satisfaction and even satiety from the memory. It makes sense, actually. Human senses are strong, and memories are quite powerful.
This is not to say I will never again bend to my cravings. There’s certainly a place for that. In fact, I enjoyed many a dark chocolate covered pretzel this evening. But what a relief to not be a slave to my cravings anymore. I’ve found a way to appreciate them without having to succumb to them.