Girls - dealing with food cravings during periods?

whiteviolett
whiteviolett Posts: 30
edited October 7 in Food and Nutrition
Most of the time, the cravings I get whilst on my period are for stuff I usually eat, like toast or bananas. But at the moment, I have a major craving for anything and everything that I CANNOT eat - chocolate, ice cream, cakes etc

Ladies, what do you eat to satisfy your cravings without actually eating any of the bad stuff?
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Replies

  • DenverKos
    DenverKos Posts: 182
    I eat it! I eat fairly well the rest of the time, so when I get cravings one or two days a month, I eat it. I don't GORGE myself, my I do indulge in a taste. Usually I want salty foods like french fries, so I'll get a small one or some chips and it satisfies me. I don't try to fight it because that will just make me crazy. I eat a little bit, and like I said, a day or two a month doesn't ruin anything with how I eat the rest of the time.
    I also cramp really bad, and exercise helps to relieve them, so I end up working out a little more during that time and can afford the "extra" calories.
  • learningtolove
    learningtolove Posts: 288 Member
    I eat it- in moderation.
    I crave salt on my period,if I don`t treat myself I end up binging. It gets pretty ugly between regular period bloating and my salt cravings I can `gain` up to 7 pounds that week of the month.
  • silhouettes
    silhouettes Posts: 517 Member
    I usually just eat it and force myself to work off the calories.. not healthy but won't gain if I stay in my calorie range... might not be healthy but it's not a "every" day occurance.
  • maryjay51
    maryjay51 Posts: 742
    if i see it coming i try to head it at the pass and grin and bear it ..but if i dont see it coming and im craving sweets well then i eat them lol .. had chocolates and ice cream cake last time and it was really good !!!!
  • Inlet
    Inlet Posts: 135
    When I crave salt I eat pickles and when I crave chocolate I eat fresh grapefruit. I also make sure and take multivitamins and drink a lot of water. =)
    If it's just too much to bear I will have a bit of very dark chocolate, or drink some good coffee.
    The grapefruit thing is like a miracle food for me... takes away my appetite completely and tastes like dessert.
  • 20poundgoal
    20poundgoal Posts: 1
    Sugar free mint chocolate chip gum works every time! :o)
  • swthrtsmrf
    swthrtsmrf Posts: 384
    When I crave salt I eat pickles and when I crave chocolate I eat fresh grapefruit. I also make sure and take multivitamins and drink a lot of water. =)
    If it's just too much to bear I will have a bit of very dark chocolate, or drink some good coffee.
    The grapefruit thing is like a miracle food for me... takes away my appetite completely and tastes like dessert.

    What a great idea!
  • Jordynnsmom
    Jordynnsmom Posts: 88 Member
    I have about two days that I crave ice cream, chocolate and anything else sweet. I have come to the conclusion that I should just give in and eat it. I do however control the serving size.
  • Jljones2787
    Jljones2787 Posts: 82
    Ughhh, the dreaded TOM. I give in. If I get a craving, I eat what I want and just drink a lot of water the next day. I usually put on 2-3 lbs anyways during my TOM and it comes off after.
  • Clkafka
    Clkafka Posts: 45
    I also eat pickles when I am craving something salty, or Special K sour cream and onion cracker chips. For sweets, a dark chocolate square is my favorite. Sometimes I even put a 1/2 tbl of peanut butter on a dark chocolate square. Also, places like Yogurtland are good options. 4oz of frozen yogurt without a bunch of toppings can be a lower calorie craving killer.
  • maritenour
    maritenour Posts: 107 Member
    Yes! pickles! its such a "different" flavor with the sourness it usually kicks cravings out of the picture.
    I also chew gum all the timee. It keeps my mouth occupied so i dont put any of the bad stuff in. haha
    I work in a bakery/donut shop so i am coooonstantly tempted.
  • adjones5
    adjones5 Posts: 938 Member
    Hot tea.
  • Mybabie
    Mybabie Posts: 239
    I eat it. But try not to eat too much of it. Like Have one small chocolate candy. My husband usually has Riesen in the house. So I will have one of those. Really good chocolate.
  • yoli_bee
    yoli_bee Posts: 27
    Wow, seeing everyone else say they eat it makes me feel a lot better about the fact that I *always* give in to period cravings. I honestly thought that if I was "strong enough" I'd be able to just ignore them, but it's kind of cool to know that I'm normal.

    Anyway: I eat. I usually do well during the day, but at night I have some snacks because I can't sleep without giving into the cravings. I eat the stuff I usually eat as well as stuff I don't usually eat--or at least in not such large portions. I still workout like I usually do, and once my period is over I notice the bloat is down *and* that I didn't gain any weight. Maybe it's a woman thing? :)
  • quiksandy
    quiksandy Posts: 246 Member
    I have pretty strong chocolate cravings so I eat Jello sugar free chocolate pudding (the refriderated kind...non refrigerated is nasty!) They are only 60 calories and pretty yummy.

    Another thing I have are Nature Valley Dark Chocolate granola thins. They are 80 calories.
  • slimmin12
    slimmin12 Posts: 27
    "SKINNY COW",makes an absolutely delicious milk chocolate wafer bar for just 110 calories!,cant beat the flavor & its so satisfying,try that,im sure you will be hooked ...I am!
  • gingerb85
    gingerb85 Posts: 357 Member
    I go ahead and eat one square of a good quality dark chocolate and that usually satisfies my chocolate cravings.
  • LakeishaEllis
    LakeishaEllis Posts: 10 Member
    Chocolate is also a craving of mine during my cycle, and Ive found a great recipe that allows me to have it without all the calories. Its called the Cola Cake, the recipe is on allrecipes.com. Hope that helps.
  • getfitnfab
    getfitnfab Posts: 418 Member
    So I noticed if I have been working out that month, I do not have as many cravings

    When I do crave something I have it and try to work it off

    In the past when I have not used moderation, the day I start giving into the forbidden foods, every forbidden food goes thru my lips
  • cshrank
    cshrank Posts: 13
    Yeah, working out beforehand also helps me. But if not, my cravings cannot be quinched by a simple piece of chocolate... my cravings are like entire pans of brownies or boxes of donuts or something big that is substantially filling!! I rarely give in to those, especially now that I'm working out and eating much more healthy than I used to... but those desires still come up. I eat graham crackers and try to keep the 100 calorie packs of something sweet so that I cannot gorge myself... and gum definitely helps. I recently discovered the pina colada orbitz... yum!!
  • Gosser
    Gosser Posts: 178 Member
    Either have a cheat day where you ignore your calorie goal and eat your craving or try an alternative. Chocolate is my craving so I have alpro soya chocolate desserts (110 calories each) twice in a day and if I'm feeling bad I just eat what I want and ignore the calories goal for that day.
  • fitplease
    fitplease Posts: 647 Member
    I just don't eat well the first couple of days. I think my body tends toward the starches and carbs. I have to fight myself to eat healthy.
  • Natihilator
    Natihilator Posts: 1,778 Member
    Another vote for the good quality dark chocolate to stomp out sugar cravings. Also really sweet fruit like Pink Lady apples and frozen green grapes work too.

    For carb cravings, natural popcorn

    For savoury/salt cravings, I usually eat half a cup of Pace chunky salsa lol
  • chrinsky
    chrinsky Posts: 16 Member
    The last few days of my PMS and first few days of my period, I usually give in to my cravings. I eat so well every other day of the month and work out 4-5X per week, that honestly I don't feel guilty giving into my crazy womanly cravings. If you're doing well (eating right, counting calories, working out) MOST of the time (and I really do mean MOST), it's OK to give in to your cravings every now and again. Don't beat yourself up over it. If what you're craving is *really* bad, just eat smaller portion? That way you're still satisfying your craving, but being conscientious about it.
  • channy04
    channy04 Posts: 3
    I too usually eat it, although I will try to control portion size.
    For sweets cravings, which is usually what it is, I will eat a handful of peanut butter M&Ms and thats all I will allow myself. Or I will go to the local make your own yogurt place and be sure to only put fruit on the toppings.

    For the occasional salty cravings, I eat salted almonds or some low fat butter popcorn, it seems to do the trick for me! But I am one of those people who if I deny myself, will go and eat an entire bag of something in secret. So moderation seems to be the key for me!
  • maryjay51
    maryjay51 Posts: 742
    depends on my mood and willpower level whether i say F it and cave in to my desires.. but i crave sweets like nobody's business during that time of the month..its an awful feeling too because i never could understand it . if i see it coming i try to brace myself, hold up my bootstraps and fight the war and just ride the tidal wave till that time frame is over.
  • BlueEyesXoXo
    BlueEyesXoXo Posts: 99
    Just eat it in moderation! :) Better than binging!
  • Nikkiray32
    Nikkiray32 Posts: 123
    I still struggle with this.. If I am having a salty craving, it's not too bad. Basically just chips. However; if I am having sweet craviings, I am in a world of trouble. That means candy bars, ice cream, soda's , cupcakes, etc Recently, I've been trying to do grapes for the sweet cravings.
  • LaurenAOK
    LaurenAOK Posts: 2,475 Member
    I have a horrible ice cream addiction, and when I'm stressed or on my period I crave it more than ever. And I eat it. To be honest, I usually don't even log it. Not necessarily recommending that for others, but that's what I've been doing and I'm still losing. I think it's because most days, I log every single thing I put in my mouth and I always end up under my calorie goal. So a few days a month of enjoying ice cream without bothering to log isn't going to ruin anything.
  • TheEput
    TheEput Posts: 2 Member
    I recall one of my health teachers in school saying that is was actually possible that when you are on your period, and you gain weight that it is not like normal gaining weight - so don't be alarmed. It will come off easily.
    Also- I usually exercise super well on my period so I try to use that to my advantage.

    I never worry during that time about eating that much. It's like you body saying to take a break :)
    Probably because if you didn't, then your emotions would drive you crazy, and all just over a little bit of food.

    Enjoy yourself and just keep it in moderation (but don't beat yourself up if you go a little overboard).
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