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Use Cravings to Improve Your Nutrition

Written by Team Natural Wellness | Feb 4, 2025 2:19:24 PM

Even the most health-conscious, intentional eaters sometimes make food decisions based on factors other than pure nutritional value.

Sometimes you just want something salty… no wait, crunchy

No wait! 

Salty and crunchy.

Match your craving to a nutritious snack.

Cravings are marked by a strong desire for a specific type of food. Depending on your mood or palate, you might crave something sweet, savory, creamy, crispy, or all of the above.

Often, the object of a craving is highly processed and nutrient poor. While satisfying in the short term, it does little to regulate your appetite in the long term.

But what if you could satisfy your craving AND give your body a nutritious boost?

Coach Jarrett Brumett, CSCS, PN1, created a spreadsheet of snack ideas that fit directly where the above two goals overlap. (We're making it available for you to use, too: Click here to check it out!)

To use it, find the flavor/food quality you’re craving in the first row, then choose from the list of snack options below it. (Or come up with your own!)

Take it further: Notice when cravings hit.

Cravings are normal—and often fun, when mindfully indulged.

But if you notice cravings are derailing your larger health goals, investigate why cravings are happening so persistently.

Just like Pavlov’s dogs and the bell that made them salivate for food, us humans can be “triggered” to crave food through unrelated cues in our environment.

 

When you experience food cravings when you’re not physically hungry, bring awareness to your triggers by asking:

 ❤️ What am I feeling?

 ⏰ What time is it?

 👯 Who am I with?

 🗺️ Where am I?

🤔 What thoughts am I having?

Keep a journal and look for patterns. 

However, if you feel healthy and satisfied with your eating habits, don’t feel like you need to change a thing. 

While a rice cake and peanut butter makes a delicious, nutritious, satisfying snack, sometimes it’s fun to “splurge” (guilt-free) on the real-deal artisanal kettle-cooked potato chips you love. 

 
Read more about cravings:
We Know Eating Those Salts and Sweets Won't Stop Our Stress....So What do we do Instead?
5 strategies for overcoming tempting trigger foods and achieving long-term healthy eating habits
Tired of Crashing on the Energy Roller Coaster? Try THESE things to get your life back

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Precision Nutrition Inc. For more information about Precision Nutrition, visit http://www.precisionnutrition.com.