Cravings...

[Tri Girl]

I wonder what I'm needing when I'm craving Nutella... chocolate? fat? protein? deliciousness? So many possibilities.

[KnottedYet]

15% fat.... ouch.

My rule for cravings is: eat.

If the only reason for the craving is from your head, you'll get your fill pretty quick and be done with it. (Eat a whole truck load of chocolate guilt free, and pretty soon you'll be craving steamed broccoli and salads.)

If the craving is from your gut, you'll stop craving when you stop needing something from the item. I crave red meat, beer, and vegetables. If I eat them to contentment (2-3 beers a day, 1 meal with meat, at least one huge plateful of steamed vegetables) my cholesterol improves tremendously and I'm a nicer person.

The important part for me is to dump the guilt. If you snarf the chocolate (or the cheese, or the beer, or the steak, or whatever), but feel guilty the whole time, you won't reach any level of contentment and you'll just keep right on snarfing. Smell the thing. Savor the thing. Take pictures of it. Sing songs of gratitude for it.

Repeat as necessary.

[marni]

I find that if I am craving sweets, it is because I am low in protein. You might also want to try substituting some really garlicky hummus for the peanut butter.

I am slowly learning to fight my cravings by accepting them and giving into to them at highly diminished amounts, slowly and with many pauses to savor Mindufl eating is always good.

Peanut butter in one of my downfalls so good luck with that.

[azfiddle]

mmmmmm Nutella... there is an unopened jar in the pantry....

[Bike Chick]

If I'm craving something and it continues to nag at me, I give in to the craving. I just eat a small amount, savor tiny bites and make it last. If I eat it slowly, I find that I don't even finish it a lot of the time because I get satisfied. I don't try to analyze why or stress over it--that just totally doubles the guilt.

[Crankin]

Catrin, why don't you use a small amount of olive oil to replace that cooking spray? That will up your "good" fat content. I also eat a handful of either walnuts or almonds with dried cranberries for a snack daily. If I am lazy, I buy the Trader Joe's pre-mixed trail mix that comes in little packets, with the above ingredients. It's about 110 calories and some fat, but extremely satisfying. I even eat it on the bike. Since I am allergic to peanuts, this is a great mixture for me.
I also throw the nuts and cranberries into a dish of non fat Greek yogurt for breakfast.

[jessmarimba]

While I "crave" sweet foods, I know that's all in my head. The foods I crave and can't stop craving until I have some are usually vinegar-related. I have no idea what that means.

But peanut butter is a pretty unique taste, and if you were a PB&J kid it might be the "comfort food" factor that is getting you...?

[Catrin]

I wonder what I'm needing when I'm craving Nutella... chocolate? fat? protein? deliciousness? So many possibilities.

Deliciousness, most certainly I also found a product a few months back that was peanut butter mixed with dark chocolate I have not seen it since, which is a very good thing because it could not have been more delicious! Scrumptious even! Just don't ask me how long the jar lasted

[Crankin]

Marni, your post made me laugh. Won't say anything more, because the only time someone has told me I was being rude on TE is when I made a comment similar to yours.
However, they found me on the train to class last fall, when a lovely young woman struck up a conversation with me by telling me she "loved my shirt." Thankfully, I got off at the next stop.
When my door gets knocked on, I just point to the mezuzzah and say,"If you see one of these, you probably are not going to make a sale."

[marni]

I managed to get rid of them once in MA by letting my 6'6'' son with waist length hair answer the door. He cracked to door open and peered out in a paranoid manner saying "Yesss?......) (he has a very deep voice). When one of them started with the introductory questions he said "wait" pushed the door nearly closed and shouted back into the house "never mind the goat guys, I've found a couple of virgins." When I looked out I saw their backs disappearing down the road. They never bothered us in MA again.

[malkin]

So now we have the "Peanut Butter and Missionaries" Thread!

...I just point to the mezuzzah and say,"If you see one of these, you probably are not going to make a sale."

A naked toddler splashing around in the homebrew pot works pretty well too.

[Owlie]

I had a teacher in high school who got the knock on the door when he first moved to Ohio. He invited them in, asked if they wanted anything to drink, etc, then proceeded to tell them his views on life. They never bothered him again!

My dad just told them "We're Catholic."

[OakLeaf]

My dad did similar, Owlie. He spent two years in divinity school and has maintained a lifelong interest in theology and church history. He'd invite them in and debate Scripture until their heads exploded.

[Catrin]

So now we have the "Peanut Butter and Missionaries" Thread!.....

Speaking of cravings, on the BF women's forum we have the following threads:

"The Food Thread"
"The Chocolate Thread"
"The S*x thread" (not really about what it sounds like, but the title is great)

That just about covers it

[Crankin]

Marni, your son is about 5 years older than my oldest and 7 years older than the one who went to the door half naked... but we probably have some mutual acquaintences.
Of course the people in Concord think I am weird becaue I lived in Boxborough. Gee, when my neighbors ask me why I don't get involved in town activities, I just say, "I only moved 9 miles... didn't have to change anything in my life."
But our kids both graduated from the best high school around!