How to Curb Food Cravings & Golden Rough Chia Pudding Recipe

At one time or another we have all experienced food cravings. Whether we succumb to them or not is another thing.

Some studies have proven that both men and women do suffer from food cravings however women tend to suffer more and statistics have shown that women tend to have more sweet cravings where as men might crave the more starchy carbs and BBQ type foods (however my cravings are usually for the savory kinds myself!)

Bottom line is that we consume way too much sugar in a standard diet. It’s addictive physically and emotionally. Eating sugar fills you up without giving you any nutritional value  and interferes with the absorption of the nutrients you DO take in when you are eating more healthfully.

Sugar or junk food cravings could be signs of hormonal imbalance or a weak digestion or when we are tired, or sad we can have low blood sugar or seratonin levels in which a sugar craving usually follows.

Of course most of us are ‘regular people’ with temptation all around us at any given time, but you can employ some strategies when it comes to food cravings to prevent you going down that less than healthy path.

A mostly raw food diet will minimize your cravings for sugars, grains and starches over time and the difference can be noticed usually in as quickly at 48 hours. Anytime I find myself craving processed, starchy and refined foods, all I want to eat is more of the same. Even if the last thing I feel like is a big bowl of salad with a tasty dressing if I’ve been overindulging, all it takes is that one wholesome meal to reset my taste buds. It’s like that first day back at the gym after a hiatus. Usually the hardest part is walking out the door.

Here are some tips you can apply to assist you when unhealthy cravings strike:

• Don’t misinterpret thirst for hunger – grab that bottle or big glass of water and slurp it on down. Then revisit your need for food after a little while.

• Engaging in moderate exercise (30 minutes a day is a good start) – feel good endorphins will reduce your cravings for sugary food and lift your seratonin levels which could have encouraged the craving in the first place.

• Get more sleep! Quite often we crave certain foods when we are tired to keep our energy levels up. Everyone is different, but 8 hours is a minimum to aim for. Also try to be in bed before 10pm as our bodies do the most healing between 10pm & 2am.

• Try and maintain a generally healthy diet the majority of the time. I live by the 80/20 rule. I realize there are times when I may not be able to be as mindful about my diet (ie socializing, traveling, special occasions) and I allow for that which in turn allows me the flexibility without beating myself up, however my diet is mostly healthy – 80% or more and high raw at that for me,  so slip ups now and then are fine from time to time. I feel the beat up is worse than the effect of the food, so relax but then get back on track.

• make your food LOOK delicious and enticing ie drink your fresh made juices out of wine or cocktail glasses, garnish your raw food desserts with fresh pieces of fruit, and leave some components of your dish out for garnishing purposes – we eat with our eyes FIRST!

• seek out holistic help from a naturopath, acupuncturist, allergy specialist or the like. You may have a medical/hormonal imbalance that can be healed with special attention.

Here are some other strategies you can use when you have certain cravings:

• Chips/Crisps: Vegetable crisps/chips made in the dehydrator or low heat oven
• Ice-cream: Raw banana soft serve (frozen bananas processed in a food processor til they become soft serve icecream) or a thick nutmilk smoothie, raw vegan ice cream
• Creamy salad: Hummus or guacamole dressing
• Cheese: Nut cheeses or tahini
• Sushi: Vegetable sushi rolls with parsnip or cauliflower ‘rice’
• Alcohol and/or Cigarettes: Green juice or green smoothies
• Milk: Nut milk or nut milk smoothies, chia seeds
• Lollies/Candy: Fruit and/or nut balls or bars, nut butter on fresh fruit like apples or bananas
• Dessert: Fresh fruit or raw desserts like my Jaffa Choc Orange Pudding or the chia pudding below
• Hot Chips/French Fries: Green smoothie
• Pizza: Raw pizza or flax crackers with raw pizza toppings
• Thai or Chinese food: Salads with home made dressings using fresh ginger, sesame oil, tamari/nama shoyu (wheat free soy), miso paste

Crave Killer Green Smoothie

It’s simple but it works. You can get more creative by adding in other vegetables or fruits as you so desire.

Ingredients:

• 1 handful of baby spinach
• 1 frozen banana
• 2 cups of water

Place in a blender until well combined. If using a fresh banana you may wish to serve over ice.

Golden Rough Chia Pudding

Golden Rough is a popular chocolate bar in Australia made up of chunks of coconut pieces (such a great flavour combination). The chia seeds in this recipe can help to balance blood sugar and curb appetite which isn’t only great for cravings but also for weight loss.

SERVES 4

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup chia seeds
• 1/2 cup dried coconut
• 1/2 cup raw cashews soaked for 2 hours and drained
• 2 cups water
• 2 T cacao powder
• 16 dates pitted dates (I use the local Saudi dates which don’t seem to be as sweet at Medjool so maybe experiment with the date amount you use for sweetness)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
• pinch of salt

Place all ingredients (except the coconut and chia seeds) in a high speed blender until smooth.

Pour mixture into a well combined bowl of chia seeds and coconut and mix thoroughly.

The chia seeds will take on a gelatinous texture/appearance as the seed can soak up to 10 times is weight in water.

Leave for 5 minutes then stir again.

Serve into 4 custard cups/souffle dishes and place in the refrigerator for half an hour to set.

Then enjoy!!! Dessert or Breakfast.

Robyn