A word of advice: do not bring Candy Crush to bed with you.
Why? He steals the covers. Two reasons. First, you won’t be able to fall asleep. You’ll see nothing but colorful jellies every time you close your eyes and have a hard time calming yourself down after you come so.damn.close to beating a level that’s been driving you crazy.
Second, you’ll wake up the next morning craving anything and everything sugar related. Okay, so that might not be 100% accurate since my lack of sleep probably had more to do with my sugar cravings than my late night gaming, but still… Candy Crush is at the root of it all. And speaking of candy, let’s talk about those sugar cravings for a second…
Remember how last week’s WIAW documented a day of eats that didn’t really include any dessert? Well, the same can not be said of this week’s – I was a sugar craving machine yesterday. Maybe it was the fact that it rained all day, or maybe it was the fact that I was tired – whatever it was, I wanted ALL the sugar.
It all started with breakfast, where I got a little heavy-handed with the the honey pot…
Eggy oats layered with plain Greek yogurt and then topped with almond butter and honey.
I’ve come up with a new-to-me way of plating my oats. What I’ll do is put a little more than half of them into the bottom of a bowl, spread a layer of yogurt over top, and finish off with the remaining oats before adding my toppings. I’m not sure what kind of a difference it makes, but I do know that I’m a fan.
So that definitely silenced the sweet tooth for a little while and let me get on with my day, but it wasn’t long before it started demanding attention, yet again. Enter a mid-morning snack…
A bittersweet moment because that was the last of my Rice Krispie Energy Bites. I’d make more, but holy.wow are those things dangerous. I think some time apart will do me good. In any case, I enjoyed half and saved the rest for after lunch…
Lunch was… not sweet. I resisted the urge to pack something like an ABJ this morning and went with a wrap filled with baked chicken, caramelized onions, mushrooms, and cheese instead. See that? That right there is my brain trying to be sensible. I also had some baby carrots and tiny tomatoes which looked remarkably similar to these guys right here…
I don’t know about you guys, but my sugar cravings hit the hardest in the afternoon. I know a lot of people say their sweet tooth usually finds them after dinner, but mine? Definitely after lunch. I think a lot of it has to do with that dreaded afternoon slump, in which case coffee helps (even if I had to add a flavor shot)…
Dry cappuccino with a shot of vanilla.
But yesterday was a day where I needed a little extra dose of caffeine too…
Holy.smokes, you guys… This was my first time trying Alter Eco chocolate and I think I’m in love. I’ve always been a big fan of the mint-chocolate combo, and this bar was basically perfect. Smooth, creamy, and sweet enough to silence my sugar cravings… at least until it was time for dinner…
I know my bowl of chicken stir fry may look savory (and, really… it was), but that sauce right there? Sweet ‘n Sour 😆 But how proud am I for not resorting to having breakfast for dinner on a day where I was dealing with a raging sweet tooth?!? I won’t deny that it crossed my mind, but I decided to put it off until before bed instead…
Plain Greek yogurt topped with Kashi Cinnamon Harvest, homemade applesauce, and almond butter.
So there you have it. A slightly sweeter What I Ate Wednesday than I had last week, but that’s life, isn’t it? Never static. Actually, I still remember a time where I controlled my eats to the point where every day was the same – I had my meals all pre-planned out, and I’d stick to that plan no matter what I was craving. I was also terrified of sugar and wouldn’t even allow myself to have more than one piece of fruit (usually an apple) a day. Sad times.
These days, I don’t mind giving in to my sweet tooth, but I do try to pick healthier options since my sweet tooth is pretty adamant about being satisfied on a regular basis. Fruit, honey, maple syrup, dark chocolate, flavored yogurts, sweeter cereals… I feel like I’ve reached a good place where I can balance what my body craves with what my mind thinks is more sensible.
Happy Wednesday, friends! 😀
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What do you usually eat to satisfy sugar cravings?
Do you crave sugar more on days where you’re tired?
Have you ever noticed that the more sugar you eat, the more you crave?
That FOAM IS PERFECT on that cappuccino. My goodness! I am an animal when it comes to sweets. It’s really quite ridiculous, but I always go with it (until I take a two week hiatus because I get out of control hahahaha.) It’s all about balance though right?? One week you don’t want sweets..the next week you do! When I am craving sugar a PBJ is def the safe route as it’s not that bad…then maybe oatmeal with a little bit of brown sugar, and THEN if I am going balls deep..cookies, cake, cupcakes, chocolate..ALL IS FAIR GAME.
I love kashi cinnamon harvest…I bought a box recently and realized my husband ate more of it than I did! I have to hide it lol
I definitely want to eat your wrap right now. I’ve been loving wraps like crazy lately… especially the roasted veggie and cashew spread wrap at my local whole foods. YUM.
Anyway, I definitely notice if I eat more sweets… I crave more sweets. Thankfully, I have jelly bellies and chocolate to help me out 😉
And I think my worst days were the days I cut out FAT from my diet. Thankfully, I never cut out fruit or I probably would have been – literally – a skeleton. Thank God for grapes, bananas, and all things delicious.
PS. I had to turn off my phone before going upstairs the past two nights because I found myself STAYING AWAKE to wait for more lives. And those last jellies with one life left. AFKDJALSDKFJ…. I need a detox. Lol
Lol I -almost- did that last night. But its like a 30 minute wait to play for 5 minutes and I knew I’d regret it in the morning since I can’t for the life of me sleep in. Freaking game – which level are you on?
Wow, your wrap and stir fray (AND oats) look yummy!
I do think I crave sugar more when I eat it more. I often eat fruit to satisfy it, or a Reese’s mini PB cup or two (white chocolate, since I don’t eat cocoa). Sometimes, though, it’s straight up ice cream, or a cupcake, or cookies, or cookie butter, or… lots of options! I don’t know if I crave it more often when I’m tired. I don’t get sleepy during the day very often anymore since I went off caffeine 2 years ago, so it’s hard to say!
Haha, stir FRY, not fray. 🙂
I feel you on the sugar monster needing to be fed when I’m tired especially! I am trying right now to keep processed sugar to a minimum just because I notice a difference in how I feel when I have less of it. I think I’m over the hump….fingers-crossed. Good luck with your sugar situation! And love the layering of the oats…that way there’s a surprise layer of oats waiting for you at the finish line!
My sugar cravings have been more prominent that usual lately, but I try to keep them relatively reigned in and controlled with fruit, dark chocolate, no-sugar-added jam, and fruit-flavoured gum. I think I need to start using honey more often though, that stuff is amazing and I still havea huge container of it that I got from a farm that’s one road over from my parents.
The more I eat, the more I crave, so I’m trying (and currently, kind of failing) to cut back a little bit and go for better sweet options. It’s a work in progress.
And that’s like an oatmeal-yogurt sandwich, except significantly messier…seems smart to me 😉
Farm fresh honey?! I would -die-. I splurge and pick some up from the farmer’s market sometimes, and it seriously tastes so much better than the one from the honey beat pots that you get in the store.
Some days my sweet cravings are through the roof and all I want is a big bar of chocolate or a tub of cookie dough ice cream.
Your oats look so good. Right up my street.
I will take your layering a step further – I am all about parfaiting my frozen yogurt, greek yogurt and oatmeal bowls. BUT – once I complete my perfect layers, I mix it all up before eating. Nuts, maybe. But it works for me lol…. I don’t often crave sugar, except in the form of fruit or chocolate cake. And when I crave it, I eat it. Once I eat it, I am usually good. I live on peanut butter and still crave it often. I do find that the more I eat it, the more I want it though – which is just fine with me.
That stir fry looks so good, you made that? Wow! And yum, that mint chocolate sounds good too.
See, I’m thinking I need to resist trying candy crush. I feel like I would get sucked in. That said, since I’m not playing I feel left out!
Yup, I made that, believe it or not 😉 It’s super simple and a great way to use up extra veggies that are lying around. All I do is sauté some veggies (usually broccoli, peppers, mushrooms, onions) on a bit of roasted sesame oil, toss in some pre-cooked chicken, throw the whole thing on a bed of noodles, and call it a meal.
YUM! Looks like my kind of day 🙂 That pasta was a nice savory balance to the day!
And there I was wondering which “theme” you were to follow in your WIAW today because they often happen to mirror something that’s been true for me lately, too. Guess what? Yes, I’ve been craving – and eating – sugar like crazy lately. Just a while back this would’ve made me feel bad but now I’m eating Alpro soy dessert (always the dark chocolate one – the best!) and several squares of Lindt and call it a day, well, a few more days. Studying requires sugar and it’ll hopefully be over by the end of the week. But yes, you’re right: the more sugar you eat the more you crave so I’ll try to go with less once I’ve finished this huge paper … sigh.
Fruit and chocolate are my usual favourite ways to satisfy sugar cravings – especially now in Summer. Fingers crossed for blueberries to be available around here soon!
Can you tell me why I have yet to try the almond butter and honey combo even though you’re mentioning it regularly? Maybe the lack of honey is to blame …
Happy Wednesday!
I’m honestly not sure I could live without honey right now – it’s become my liquid gold crack. And yes… sugar (and caffeine) got me through plenty of late night study sessions as well. Sometimes you’ve just gotta go what you’ve gotta do. I’ve haven’t tried the dark chocolate puddings from Alpro – usually I go for the caramel ones, which I actually haven’t had in a while. Might need to add those to the shopping list this week.
The more sugar I eat.. the more I crave it! I try to stay away from sugary food during the week and I have a treat on the weekend (usually vegan gummies or a margarita) yumm!
Yesterday I can’t even begin to explain the amount of sugar (and dairy) that I ate. I was exhausted so I think that definitely played a part in it. Usually I just have a few small pieces of dark chocolate and I am good but that was NOT the case yesterday. Oh well those days happen I suppose!
I do find that the less I consume it the less I want it! But that’s the case with lots of “bad” foods.
Your foods look so good! 🙂
I try to combat sugar cravings with:
*greek yogurt + honey
*fresh berries + dark chocolate
*apple slices + almond butter
*cocoa dusted almonds
*air-popped popcorn tossed with a bit of brown sugar + cinnamon
I also think that the more sugar I eat, the more I crave it….
Yum! I am going to have to try that oat/greek yoghurt idea. I love oat parfaits but I’ve never thought of just putting a thin layer in between my cooked oats..next time for sure!
Love the look of that chicken wrap too!
My sugar cravings always seem to hit on a night time when I fancy a snack..when it comes to eating more sugar making me crave more sugar though that’s never normally the case with me..the only thing that makes me crave more of it is chocolate!
I had a major sweet tooth day yesterday as well! But since I’m reallll low on groceries, I had to get pretty creative. If I get on a sugar-eating roll, I definitely start to crave more. When that happens, I like drinking some water, breathing, and taking a walk. Usually I’m not actually hungry and I don’t actually want the sugar that badly!
Creative, eh? That brings back memories of when I still lived at home and my parents were slacking on the groceries… Sometimes we didn’t have anything but semi-sweet baker’s chocolate in the cupboards, and I remember eating that to satisfy my cravings 😆
I am having a sweet tooth as well! Already two pieces of Hersey kisses this morning 🙂 probably more chocolate along the day…
I have a big time sweet tooth so I need to have fruit and stevia-sweetened stuff every day or I’m not a happy girl. I try to have a sweetened latte or tea if I’m not hungry but just craving sweetness or some dark chocolate and usually that handles it.
My sweet tooth is my downfall. Why does chocolate have to be so darn good?! Oh and those Rice Krispie Energy Bites … wow! They look amazing, going now to check them out!
Your dinner is making me drool. It has been WAY too long since I have had sweet and sour sauce. I need to make up a batch of my sweet and sour veggies over brown rice. Yum! 🙂
Oh man just even a little less sleep than my body needs is all it takes to throw my sugar cravings out of whack…and hunger for that matter. I either end up being starving no matter what or my appetite is close to zilch! I love your approach, Amanda- if we’re going to put a fancy label on it, let’s called “Intellectual Intuitive Eating”. In other words you are listening to your cravings but also using your nutrition-based knowledge to make smart choices to ensure you fuel yourself both physically and mentally..I wonder how long till this becomes a new movement in the blog world ;)!
As for my own sugar cravings, they’re nothing that good ol’ Lindt can’t fix…daily!
Well now that you’ve gone and slapped a label on it, I’m pretty sure it won’t be long before it starts showing up in #hashtags everywhere 😉
Usually I reach for a piece of dark chocolate to satisfy my sweet tooth, but sometimes only a brownie, or cookie, or piece of cake will do! and definitely the more sugar I eat the more I want/crave it!!!!
Your wrap looks fantastic, even if there wasn’t any sugar involved. 🙂 Eating a lot of sugar definitely makes me want more sugar–I actually read a few articles once upon a time about how that’s a physiologically proven phenomenon. (Sugar is basically crack…but actually. Your body essentially responds to it like it does crack.) If I really have a bad craving, I’ll indulge in it and have a slice of cake or some chocolate or whatever else is laying around, but I definitely try not to go overboard because that just ends badly in so many different ways.
So, what does it mean when I crave sugar after lunch AND dinner!?! So not good! And yes…if I cave into my sweet tooth, then I want more and more sugar. That’s why I attempt to stay away from it, but sometimes my sweet tooth wins out! A piece (or two) of dark chocolate does the trick for me though, so at least it’s a “healthier” sweet option.
I too am a big fan of the chocolate-mint combo! Sooooo good!
Hehe I think that means you’re basically normal 😛 I usually always have to end my meals on a sweet note, but the craving is just a lot stronger in the afternoon.
I’m always craving sugar when I don’t sleep enough. It’s terrible but not really because I love it so much. It’s funny how cravings go up and down. Sometimes all I want is fruit and veggies and other days all I want is carbs. That’s just how life is. I still can’t beat 65 on candy crush.
I think rainy days do make you crave for sugar. Maybe a comfort thing? I usually satisfy my sweet craving with either a granola bar, yogurt, (I have to be careful with those or I’ll eat a whole box) or a handful of cereal. I’ve been snacking on cereal more and more. It’s just sweet enough for me.
My cravings hit after dinner most of the time but sometimes I get them after breakfast. Weird right?
I haven’t played candy crush but I’ve gotten SOOO many requests to play it. I think I’m going to stay away! lol.
I LOVE chocolate and ice cream for those sugar cravings, but lately I’ve been loving dark chocolate…which is not so sweet. I definitely crave sugar when I am tired…but I also just want to eat everything in sight when I am tired. The brain just doesn’t shut off the food cravings.
I’ve actually found dark chocolate to be one of the best things for sugar cravings… It’s just sweet enough to satisfy the sweet tooth without spiking the blood sugar and intensifying cravings. Love that stuff.
Yup, the more I eat it, the more I want it. A vicious cycle, really. Your eats look great, especially that lunch wrap. Yum!
If I’m going to have a sugar craving it usually comes right after lunch. I don’t know why but I always seem to want a sweet bite after lunch. Recently I have been bringing kabocha squash slices roasted with cinnamon, nutmeg and cocoa powder for my afternoon snack. Sweet squash with cinnamon and chocolate totally hits the spot!
I definitely crave sugar more when I’m tired. And so true- the more I eat it, the more I want it! I’m a big fan of chocolate mint too. I find that combo to be very satisfying and it’s easier to not go overboard since the mint is so strong!
Your pictures are always fantastic and mouthwatering. I can’t seem to get my oatmeal to look as beautiful as yours!! And I totally get my sweet tooth after lunch, I’m always thinking about how I NEED a bite of chocolate right after I eat. I’m just not satisfied if I don’t have something sweet in the afternoon.
As long as it tastes good, that’s the main thing that matters, right? 🙂
I have those killer sugar craving days as well! I will literally eat anything sweet that I can find in the house ;). The noodles, sandwich, and your oatmeal all look AMAZING!
Everything looks amazing! Those energy bars look awesome! I can’t wait to try them 🙂
If I’m feelin glike something sweet I tend to go for natural sugar or sugar alternatives, however I am partial to cupcakes and ice cream too.
I can see where an oatmeal “parfait” would make your breakfast taste better. What a “parfait” way to start the day! Sorry, I’m done 🙂
😆 Oh, I’m all about the cheesy jokes. Thank you for that <3
I’ve been wondering how that chocolate is – my current fav is Giddy Yo Yo (vanilla bean & salt) – the description on the packaging sounds totally elitist “made with heirloom chocolate ONLY” but oh my goodness… the texture is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It’s so creamy and not bitter/dry like so many other pure cacao bars are. No sugar high/crash either!
I was experiencing crazy PMS sugar cravings the other day – and found that Go Raws chocolate super cookies seemed to help – it was the only thing ‘sugary’ treat I had in my house, which is kind of unfortunate. Usually getting outside & going for a walk/run gets rid of my emotional sugar cravings, and if that doesn’t work, then a Marble Slab waffle cone always does the trick. 😉
I came -this- close to picking up a Giddy Yo Yo bar but went with the Alter Eco instead. It’s a gooder, though – definitely give it a shot and I’ll try out the Giddy. We’ll do a switcheroo 😉
Well, I have a sugar craving after lunch too. And after dinner. And after breakfast (even when it’s a sweet one). So practically all the time 🙂 But yes, I absolutely notice that the cravings get stronger the less I sleep. I need carbs and sugar after a night with only a few hours of sleep. I usually go for some dark chocolate or I make sweet treats myself and bring them to work (like my macaroons).
Everything you ate yesterday looks pretty darn fantastic. I have absolutely notice i crave sugar when i’m tired (and yes candy crush is at the root of all evil, i would delete it from my phone if i had the strength. but i dont. and you’re right never take it to bed.) and YES- the more you eat, the more you want it! i like that idea of adding a shot to the cappuccino when the mood strikes, i may need to try that with my mistos!
Just goes to show each week is totally different! It’s funny because sometimes my days look super duper healthy, but other times they’re filled with more treats and chocolate than normal.
My sugar cravings definitely hit my hardest in the afternoon as well. I think it’s just because it’s that darn afternoon “slump”. I always feel a little crash by then.
My usual go to for sugar cravings is fruit, but sometimes fruit just isn’t enough and chocolate needs to be added as well:)
And I definitely notice if I eat more sugar – I crave more. It’s weird – kind of like when you drink too much coffee you actually feel more tired.
Maybe we crave more sugar after lunch instead of dinner because of the fact that we wake up at 4 AM 😆 And I’ve definitely noticed that with coffee. I have a feeling it has something to do with dehydration, though, because I always feel better when I gulp down a lot of water afterwards.
Delicious! Though there is nothing wrong with oatmeal for breakfast, lunch and dinner^^ I also try to get some veggies and protein in, cause it keeps me satisfied and functioning. But hey gummybears do taste way better after a lunch of salad anyways! Happy to see that others do have such a dominant sweet tooth as well.