Eating protein instead of carbs

Oddly enough, while I'd usually have something like a clementine (or some other fruit) if craving sweetness, I also find that something very different (and usually salty) can work as well, like a pickle or salted radishes or a little cheese.

It depends - I make sure I’ve eaten enough protein and fat, and then I try to work out what it is I’m craving. If it’s sweets, I might have dark chocolate or cinnamon coffee with foamed milk. Crispy - salted radishes. Creamy - Greek yogurt with berries. But sometimes when your blood sugar is low, such as after a workout, nothing but carbs will fix a craving for carbs.

Nowadays, "cravings" feel like times where my blood sugar is on the low side. I have never measured my blood glucose levels, it could be just in my head, but that's how it feels. A banana or other fruit solves the problem for me. So OP, if your cravings are anything like mine, protein might prevent those cravings, but wouldn't address it in the moment.

lemurcat2 wrote: »

LyndaBSS wrote: »

I don't have cravings anymore. My diet is diverse enough that my body, and my taste buds, seem to be satisfied.

I consider a craving to be something like "oh, I'm really in the mood for salmon for dinner." Or "I really want a salad." Perhaps looking forward to lamb at Easter dinner after a meatless Lent. It's not bothersome, and I wouldn't want not to have the occasional strong taste for something.

That's what I consider a craving, too. I'm already eating everything I craved pre-mfp. ☺

neeneileen wrote: »

Hey I'm just curious when you crave carbs or sugary foods, do any of you replace it with protein foods like chicken or eggs? I'm trying to stay away from carbs since I'm on an high protein low carb diet. But is this the healthy way to deal with cravings?

IMO, the answer is always going to be personal and idiosyncratic. Experimentation is a good strategy.

Unlike you, I'm not trying to stay low carb. I try to get sound nutrition on the majority of days (enough protein, with a goal on the high-average side; adequate fats, emphasizing MUFA/PUFA and O-3s when possible; 5+, or better 10+ daily serving of veggies and fruit). Since I'm vegetarian (for 45 years now), that involves eating carbs, usually around 200g daily in maintenance. (It was more like 150g while losing, but I honestly don't care: Protein, fats, veggies/fruits matter to me; carbs/sugar don't.)

It's rare for me to crave foods in the "oh must have!!!" urgent and unstoppable sense that often seems to be described in posts here. I've mostly figured out how to eat so that I don't get super crave-y on a routine basis. Getting a solid breakfast (or lunch if I've eaten lightly before an AM workout), enough protein throughout the day, plus volume at at least one meal (usually veggies, usually dinner) is my happy formula. (I don't expect those specifics to work for anyone else, but they work for me.)

Every once in a while, I'll want something I can't routinely fit in my daily maintenance calories (battered fried fresh mushrooms, good coconut cream pie, whatever). Since it's a reasonably rare thing, I usually eat it and don't worry about it, or eat it and short my nutrition that day. NBD. (This is one of the reasons I calorie bank, i.e., eat a little under goal most of the time, to indulge occasionally.)

Personally, I have to watch out for IDGAF attitudes after alcohol consumption: Sometimes I just want all the yummy tastes, usually in an alternating sensory-specific way (something salty, then something sweet). In those scenarios, pickles or sauerkraut, then some fruit or something, until I get sleepy, is a good strategy if I can talk myself into it.

YMMV, your path will be different, and all that jazz.

Best wishes!

I was at the shops today and had a 'craving' for the asparagus that was on special. I gave in. I love asparagus roasted with a little nutmeg for added flavour. I threw in roasted zucchini, cauliflower and pumpkin also but was always going to have that.
I do wonder why, when using the term craving many automatically think of foods that are void of nutritional quality.

I eat what I crave. Never understood the sense in denying yourself what you want.

If I feel like pasta then a steak's just not gonna cut it and chances are I'll end up wanting (and potentially eating) the carbby food I'm looking for as well.

I think people use "craving" in lots of inconsistent ways.

For example, people very commonly use it in the sense of wanting something hard to fit in and deciding to wait and have it later in the week if they still want it. That's clearly not something where you feel like you absolutely have to have it right now.

Personally, one thing I've found is that I tend to "crave" foods (as in want very much to have them) that I am in the habit of eating. I will definitely have a strong desire to have a particular food (like salad) as in I can imagine how it would taste, don't really feel like the alternative, so on. I don't think that's inherently bad or something that I would want to have not happen.

When I used to get take out more, I would often be tired and emotionally drained at the end of the day and find myself wanting Indian delivery or some such more. When I got out of that habit and into the habit of cooking consistently, I'd tend to crave the meals I'd cook for myself.