During this time of pandemic, strong emotions and the need for security might trigger strong cravings for foods that can sabotage one’s diet or perpetuate an already low mood.
Here are 8 factors that can be related to strong food cravings:
- Pay attention to your current mood state and emotions. Do you feel stressed? Try a soothing activity first instead of eating, like listening to music to calm yourself in the moment.
- Hydrate. Lack of water can send a similar signal that you are hungry. Be sure you are drinking sufficient amount of water but not too much, especially close to bedtime.
- Balance. Are you eating certain ‘types’ of food more often than others? Eating a diet too rich in sugar might cause a craving for meat or eating too many raw foods might cause cravings for extremely cooked foods or vice versa.
- Tame your inner child. We can crave foods from our childhood because they are comforting. For example, if you crave instant noodles, you might consider satisfying that craving with a healthier version (e.g. homemade pancit bihon or canton) and adding some chicken and fresh vegetables to the dish.
- Season’s greetings. The body can sometimes crave foods that balance the elements of the season. For example, during rainy seasons, you may crave hot or heat-producing foods like meat, oil, or fat. In the summer months we might crave fruits or fruit juices. Explore what foods you enjoy eating during the different seasons.
- Body knows best. If your body is lacking in certain nutrients it may produce odd cravings. For example, salt cravings might reflect a mineral level deficit in the body. Listen to your body it might be telling you something.
- Hormones. Women are especially vulnerable to cravings during menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause when fluctuating testosterone and estrogen might cause craving.
- Are you eating enough? Low blood sugar might result in mood swings and this can perpetuate less than optimal food choices.
On the other side of the spectrum, there are also some general rules on the foods that we need to avoid during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure our health and nutritional well-being. World Health Organization suggests that it would be best to reduce foods such as red and fatty meats, butter and full-fat dairy products, palm oil, coconut oil, solid shortening and lard. Avoid trans fats as much as possible. Read nutrition labels to ensure that partially hydrogenated oils are not listed in the ingredients.
If food labels are not available, avoid foods which commonly contain trans fats such as processed and fried foods, like doughnuts and baked goods – including biscuits, pie crusts, frozen pizzas, cookies, crackers and margarines that include partially hydrogenated fat.
If in doubt, minimally processed foods and ingredients are better choices. Consume enough fibers. Fibers contributes to a healthy digestive system and offers a prolonged feeling of fullness, which helps prevent overeating.
/AET
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