Why Don't I Crave Veggies?
I have never been an addict until now. Each morning I crave diet coke. Most afternoons I crave cookies, chocolate or some salty snack. Last night I left work just to buy and power down a box of Crackers Jacks and a bag of bbq potato chips. You would think that the human body being supposedly self regulating would crave items that are good for it.
When was the last time that you were just dying for some spinach or zucchini? I never crave veggies. I like salads, stir fries, steamed veggies and many other vegetable preparations. I recognize that vegetables are cholesterol free, full of nutrients, generally low carb (not including potato types), trans fat free, low in fat, and low in calories. In fact, vegetables are probably the best foods to eat for a long healthy life.
Understanding all of this, why don't I yearn for yellow peppers or covet cucumbers or lust after legumes? I asked several people I know and I found that some people do have veggie cravings and some do not. Even a vegetarian that I asked said that her desire for sweets was stronger than her pull toward veggies.
Scientists don't seem to agree on cravings. Some say it is the body's way of getting nutrients that it lacks. This is interesting since some days I can eat 2500 calories (more than my body needs) and I still crave another 1000 calories of ice cream. Some scientists would say that I was trained to view certain foods as comfort foods and now reach for them to combat stress or because of opiates. Maybe Some people believe that big industry puts crap in the food that is pseudo addictive and that is why I crave. Maybe From my experience with the food industry I wouldn't put it past them. In the end I just don't know why I do crave what I do and why I don't crave veggies.
Do you have an explanation? What do you crave?
When was the last time that you were just dying for some spinach or zucchini? I never crave veggies. I like salads, stir fries, steamed veggies and many other vegetable preparations. I recognize that vegetables are cholesterol free, full of nutrients, generally low carb (not including potato types), trans fat free, low in fat, and low in calories. In fact, vegetables are probably the best foods to eat for a long healthy life.
Understanding all of this, why don't I yearn for yellow peppers or covet cucumbers or lust after legumes? I asked several people I know and I found that some people do have veggie cravings and some do not. Even a vegetarian that I asked said that her desire for sweets was stronger than her pull toward veggies.
Scientists don't seem to agree on cravings. Some say it is the body's way of getting nutrients that it lacks. This is interesting since some days I can eat 2500 calories (more than my body needs) and I still crave another 1000 calories of ice cream. Some scientists would say that I was trained to view certain foods as comfort foods and now reach for them to combat stress or because of opiates. Maybe Some people believe that big industry puts crap in the food that is pseudo addictive and that is why I crave. Maybe From my experience with the food industry I wouldn't put it past them. In the end I just don't know why I do crave what I do and why I don't crave veggies.
Do you have an explanation? What do you crave?
posted by Dave at
8:25 AM
1 Comments:
IMHO, I think you are just going about your daily life and your brain is busy thinking a million different thoughts. Your brain thinks -if I had some chips they would drown out 1/4 million thoughts and then I wouldn't be so busy AND I deserve to be rewarded, I deserve a break. Your brain is seeking relief and it turns to something it thinks is comfort food/forbidden food. The forbidden part makes it very rewarding. Your brain has learned all about comfort foods, good foods/bad foods etc. from the media, the grocery store, restaurants, other people's constant diet talk, etc. For you, being so busy, the path of least resistance is to do what your brain is suggesting.
You can stop and say no, I don't really wants chips, what I would like is ......
BUT that takes a lot of work before it can come automatically.
The first step, and this is a biggie, is to truly believe that all food is equal. A piece of lettuce = a snickers bar. AND that you can eat anything you want, as much as you want, any time you want without feeling bad. Yes, that is really possible! Then once you have removed all the artificial baggage that has been assigned to food/eating you are free to desire anything and go get it now, later or not at all.
You will actually end up enjoying food more and eating a wider variety of foods.
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