I am all about cheat day! In fact, I've been really bad at sticking to healthy eating the past week or so (I blame Valentine's Day). I've been eating way too much sugar which has caused a cascading effect by increasing my cravings for fried, sugary, and every unhealthy food. Give me all the fried chicken, ice cream, fries, and cake (yes...cake).
Cravings aren't bad, but they can be your body's way of telling you it is deficient in something. No, cravings are not "all in your head." Your brain is amazing at remembering when you feel pleasure from eating a certain type of food. When you are under a lot of stress, are feeling depressed, are on a very strict diet (Keto, gluten-free, vegan/vegetarian, etc.), or experiencing hormone fluctuations (during your period).
Carbohydrates boost serotonin levels, which has a calming effect for when you're anxious. The combination of sugar and fats also have a calming effect on your brain. This is why we tend to crave sugary, fat-filled snacks (potato chips, chocolate, fries, ice cream, cookies, etc.) when we are having emotional problems.
Restrictive diets can make cravings even worse. This is why people who are going through some of the diets I mentioned above, tend to eat a lot more fruit and sugary things. Because you're hungry, your brain wants a quick fix which almost always ends up being a fatty, sugary food. This is also why low-fat foods are high in sugar - to make them taste good.
When cravings hit, it's okay to satisfy them, but you must have self-control. It's so easy to sit down and eat a whole pint of ice cream or an entire bag of potato chips. This is also why you shouldn't go grocery shopping when you're hungry or craving something sweet. When you get too hungry, your body wants something quick and easy to satisfy the hunger (hence fast-food stops and snacking). Eat before your stomach starts to grumble.
How to avoid cravings:
Stay hydrated - water helps keep you fuller longer and keeps your body in homeostasis
Exercise
Make sure you're eating enough protein
Avoid stress when possible
Meal planning - you can even pre-package your meals for the week to make things easier
Eat at regular times during the day
Get enough sleep
Build in cheat days once a week - this gives your body and brain a reward for its hard work
Remember I said that sometimes cravings can mean that you're deficient in something? Here is a simple chart that might clear that up for you:
Now that you understand where cravings come from and why we all struggle with them, here are some great cheat day recipes that you might enjoy. They are low in sugar, high in fiber, and are a great source of protein - all of which help curb cravings.
Breakfast
Overnight Raspberry Cream Cheese French Toast Bake
Ingredients:
1 loaf of challah bread cut into 1-2" squares
1, 6-ounce container of raspberries (preferably organic)
1, 8-ounce block of cream cheese, cut into cubes
5 eggs
1 cup heavy cream
1 Tablespoon raw honey
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup raw sugar or coconut sugar
Powdered sugar for dusting, optional
Directions:
Spray a 9"x 9" baking dish with coconut oil and set aside.
Add half of the challah bread to the bottom of the pan and sprinkle the raspberries (reserving a few for the topping) and cream cheese.
Top with the remaining bread and press down.
In a bowl, mix together the rest of the ingredients and pour over the bread until covered.
Cover the dish with foil, pressing down again, and refrigerate overnight.
Remove from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking.
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and bake the French toast for 30 minutes covered, 30 minutes uncovered. Until golden brown.
Remove from the oven and let cool slightly, dust with powdered sugar and serve with maple syrup.
Recipe via Tornadough Alli
Lunch
Best Tomato Soup Ever & Turkey Bacon-Avocado Grilled Cheese
Soup
Ingredients:
1 medium onion
2 cloves of garlic
6 Tablespoons butter
2, 14.5-ounce cans diced tomatoes
1, 23-ounce can tomato juice
2 cups chicken stock
Freshly ground black pepper
Salt to taste
1 cup sherry, optional
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup chopped, fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
Directions:
Dice the onion, smash and chop the garlic. Melt the butter in a large pot and throw in the onion and garlic and cook until the onion is translucent. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Dump in the diced tomatoes and tomato juice and stir to combine.
Add the chicken stock, pepper, and salt to taste. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat.
Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until smooth. Add the sherry if desired and the heavy cream.
Top with the fresh basil and parsley and enjoy!
Grilled Cheese
Ingredients:
4 slices of hearty artisan bread
4-6 slices turkey bacon, cooked
4 slices of mozzarella (approx. 4-6-ounces)
1 avocado, sliced
1 ripe tomato, sliced
Fresh basil leaves
1-2 Tablespoons butter
Directions:
Butter one side of each slice of bread.
Place the bread, butter-side down, in a skillet or griddle. Layer the mozzarella, bacon, avocado, tomato, and basil. Top with the remaining slices of bread, butter-side up.
Heat over medium heat until golden and the cheese begins to melt - about 4 minutes. Carefully flip the sandwich and cook for a few more minutes.
Soup recipe via Food Network
Grilled Cheese recipe via Tidy Mom
Dinner
Garlic Butter Steak & Potatoes
Ingredients:
1 1/2-pound flank steak, sliced against the grain
1 1/2-pound baby yellow potatoes, quartered
1 Tablespoon olive oil
3 Tablespoons butter, divided
5 garlic cloves, smashed and minced
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh oregano, chopped
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Crushed red chili pepper flakes, optional
Marinade Ingredients:
1/3 cup coconut aminos (similar to low-sodium soy sauce)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Tablespoon hot sauce, optional
Fresh ground pepper
Directions:
In a large bowl, combine the steak strips with coconut aminos, olive oil, pepper, and hot sauce. Set aside to marinate while you cook potatoes.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, mix 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter. When the butter is melted, add the potatoes. Cook for about 4 minutes, stir and cook an additional 4-5 minutes until potatoes are golden and fork tender. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
Keep the same skillet over medium heat and add the remaining 2 tablespoons butter, garlic, red chili pepper flakes, and fresh herbs. Lay the steak strips in one layer in the skillet, keeping the drained marinade for later. Cook on each side for 1 minute each, until nicely browned – adjust timing depending on how you like your steak.
Right before the steak is done, you can stir in the reserved marinade if you like, and cook for one minute. Add the potatoes back to the pan and heat through. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary.
Remove from heat and serve immediately, garnished with more crushed chili pepper, fresh herbs, and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese over the potatoes if you like. Enjoy!
Recipe via Eat Well 101
Dessert
Check out Brit+Co for some great single serving desserts that "won't mess up the rest of your week."
I hope that you've enjoyed this post! Have a wonderful cheat day, friends.
Until next time,
Amanda
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