Of all the times of the year to eat eggs, I seem to have lost interest this past (Easter) week. After practically a year straight of eggy breakfasts (my pregnancy craving for my 300ish days of pregnancy), I am back to the sweeter AM fare. Heyoooo, oats!
This bowl had peanut butter (whipped into the grains), banana slices, and trail mix (WF bulk bin).
This trend has been ongoing for the last week and since they all started looking the same, I just stopped taking pics…
Ok, I guess I haven’t stopped taking photos entirely. But the fact that I only captured about 50% (and still have quite a few to share) goes to show you how much of a rut I’m truly in.
Love it. I loooove looking forward to breakfasts.
The (teensy tiny) problem is that I’ve started to crave sweets from the second I rise to the second I rest my head at night. And sometimes as a midnight snack, too. 😉
I’m a chocoholic! I’m a nut butter fiend! And if a meal can handle maple syrup, I’m certain to add it.
My trail mix used to be more seed-y and less chip-ified. But now I’ve begun to add in dark chocolate covered dried fruit.
My afternoon snacks used to be carrots and hummus, but now they include heaping bowls of sweet granola (that I can’t stop making batch after batch!).
I think my sweet tooth needs an intervention.
Grrr…
I’m torn because on the one hand, I don’t really care about what I’m actually eating. I’m (seemingly) burning calories like a mad woman thanks to breastfeeding. I have massive salads for lunch all the time and whole grains every day. I guess I’m just concerned about the slippery slope massive sugar mountain that my dessert cravings could become.
So how do I keep an eye on this without restricting (because that’s not my thing)? How do I avoid snacking on chocolate four times a day without setting a limit? I like that I (can and do) eat what I want. But really. Doesn’t it seem like overkill to have so much sugar? Intervention yay or nay? Hmmm.
I was also a MAJOR sugar fiend while breastfeeding. I did try to keep it in check a tad but my diet wasn’t as healthy as yours (think peanut butter cups and white sugar laden treats that well meaning loved ones brought by). I say enjoy it while it lasts, it’s bound to wane after a while.
I’m always amazed at how our bodies crave what we need. During pregnancy protein is super important and you wanted eggs and breastfeeding requires a lot of carbs. I wouldn’t worry about it too much as you are burning a lot of extra calories right now. Plus you don’t seem to be eating a lot of refined sugar. When I’m trying to avoid extra sweets, I’ll eat super dark or even unsweetened chocolate (I love Bakers melted in oats!) or a baked sweet potato. Both are just enough to satisfy my sweet tooth but not with too many added sugars if any at all. We often keep cold baked sweet potatoes in the fridge to snack on – sweet and filling.
Agree with the ladies above. Our bodies know…and your body certainly knows what it needs and wants. I LOVE that you shared your guilt about this as every major holiday brings sweets–the refined sugar really bad kind–into the house and calling for an intervention is something that most of us could do. That made me laugh. 500 calories/day is the figure I have in my head about the extra calorie needs for breastfeeding moms–wonder if that’s correct? I’ve never put nut butter in hot cereal, although you’ve mentioned it before, so I plan to start soon! Thanks, as always, for sharing your enthusiasm for good food.
I’ve heard a lot of women say they had a major sweet tooth when breast feeding.
It makes sense that your body would crave quick energy right now and sugar is the quickest way to get an energy boost. If you’re concerned about getting too much sugar, maybe you could just try to get more calories in general and see if it helps with the cravings. The extra nutrients certainly wouldn’t be wasted!
If you’re really concerned, maybe try to do more mindful eating? I realize that’s a tall order with a newborn, but taking a few extra minutes to really enjoy the sweets always helps me realize that my craving is being satisfied.
I think it’s awesome that you are seeing your sweet tooth for what it is and you are being gentle with it showing up in your life. A lot of people would either indulge to excess or immediately try to restrict themselves. Since these cravings are slightly out of the ordinary, I would keep doing what you are doing and just wait for things to change. You could keep things in check by baking all the sweets you eat (you do that for the most part anyways) and only use fruit, honey, and maple syrup to sweeten things. Sugar is my drug and that’s the one thing that makes me feel like a fiend! I have cut out gluten, soy, animal products, etc. throughout different times in my life and I am no longer attached to those foods (like cheese!) but sugar! Gah! I can stay away from it for a few days and next thing I know I’m in my local grocery store buying ginger candy. Ugh!
Seriously long-time lurker here, but HAD to click over and comment on this. I used to crave sugar too. But the craziest thing happened when I made a conscious effort to add a LOT more fat into my diet: my sugar cravings stopped, completely. (Like, completely. Oddest thing ever.) So I’d experiment with eating, like, at least 100-150g of fats a day for a while and see if that makes a difference. Just my 2c of course.
(Or, considering the breastfeeding thing, maybe more like 150-200g/day. I’m not experienced in this realm.)
I had major, MAJOR, sugar cravings while I was breastfeeding Lyric. I would have cookies & mochas daily along with dessert after every meal. I don’t know what made my sweet tooth go crazy but I do know that it did go away after she was getting some of her calories from food. I was just happy to be able to enjoy food again since pregnancy ruined a lot of foods for me 🙁
I say you’re good! Yes you are eating more sweets, but they’re still all healthy and whole food sources! It’s just an eating phase so I don’t think you should stress about your cravings. Remember that dried fruit and nuts are super healthy compared to what the average person considers as sweets…
Hillary, that’s awesome. Can u please share what ur daily diet consists of, in terms of what ur bf, lunch, dinner, and snacks are? I’m trying this experiment too, but need help figuring out how to concoct it! What exactly are u cals and macronutrient grams/percents?
Have u noticed any changes in ur wt or body composition?
What foods are u avoiding and which are u sure to include?
Thanks!!!!
My one concern with the sudden sweet craving is that perhaps ur gut flora is off… Pathogenic bacteria makes us crave sugars. Yeast overgrowth is extremely common in pregnancy and post pregnancy due to the huge hormonal shift and body changes. I don’t want to sound alarmist, but I’m just wanting to throw this out there. I’m dealing with this myself and it’s a total pita (which I can’t have lol). Hopefully this isn’t the case for u tho, my luv!
Baby is gorgeous and so r u! U don’t look like u just had a baby, u lucky duck 🙂
Hi Stacy, I shoot for about 50% calories from fat each day, and the composition between protein and fat each day varies. I’m an omnivore so my fats come from lots of sources: meats (pork, beef, chicken with the skin, lamb), fish, dairy (whole milk, half and half, cheese), eggs, olive oil, coconut oil, nuts, avocados, etc. I don’t really avoid anything per se though I do generally avoid processed food and sugar. (That said, if I want something, I have it! I don’t deprive myself.) If I notice that my fat seems low for a day I’ll be sure to drink a class of milk or eat some veggies drenched in oil… that kind of thing. This emphasis on fats came about because I was trying to make my periods more consistent, so I did gain some weight initially, but since I was borderline underweight before I think it was good. Now I can keep it up and I don’t continue to gain- I have stayed the same with no effort at all.
You’re probably craving the sugar for energy since you’re up so much with the kiddo at night. I find that if I’m not well rested my sugar cravings go way up! I also believe sugar is quite terrible for us over the long haul and we should be mindful of how much we put into our bodies.
With all that being said, I couldn’t help but think of the movie ELF and Will Ferrell’s breakfast scene and the quote. “We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup.” 🙂
Thanks so much hilary!
What percent if ur diet is carbs and pro? Like u, I’m underwt and have hormonal imbalances. I belive that the cholesterol and fats play a big role in this. I’m also dealing with dysbiosis, so going lower carb should help i hope. Have u found that changing ur diet has helped any gi issues?
If i may be nosey, can u post what ur typical “meal plan” looks like, so i can see how u concoct ur day in terms of what u eat for bf, lunch, dinner and snacks? This would help a ton in trying to figure out how to at way
What are ur carbs sources?
Thanks so much… U rock
I have blood-sugar issues and migraines (and often the former causes the latter), so I have to be very, very careful about sugar and balancing it with fat and protein and whole grains. That said, you seem like one of the most level-headed bloggers (and eaters in general), so I would let you honor your body. It will let you know if you’re going overboard.
I’m been craving pancakes with almond butter and berries for breakfast every single day! It’s weird…I don’t ever crave sweet oatmeal for breakfast but I totally crave granola (your “twelve-nola recipe yummmm) with almond milk or pancakes, obviously. I say listen to your bod! It knows what it needs 🙂
There will never be another time in your life where you can literally eat anything you want & still burn a million calories. I was astounded at how much weight I lost while nursing & still eating what I wanted.
No chocolate intervention. Forget it! Just go for it!
On a not-so-related note, do you know anything about the Gerson Therapy? I’m not asking because I have cancer or I think you do, but I found very similar “good” and “bad” foods on their list compared to the FODMAPS list. Any thoughts?
i know right? thats whats so exciting 🙂 im definitely enjoying it. i just want to be sure i dont OVER-enjoy the process now and totally get my sweet tooth going…because it seems like my taste buds adapt and require more and more. future elise may be annoyed by the damage breastfeeding elise did, ya know?
never even heard of gerson therapy. im intrigued so ill look into it!
i looove that clip. haha. good point about sleep habits affecting cravings. im sure theres some of that coming into play.
thanks stacy. ill keep an eye out, but i think its more likely due to a few other things people have mentioned (lack of sleep, requiring extra “quick” energy for breast feeding, etc.).
totally agree. i wasnt really worried, just kinda randomly writing about how my cravings have shifted. im not necessarily looking to make any changes or anything (def far from stressed about it). especially since so many other people mentioned things that struck a chord with me – lacking sleep, breastfeeding requiring “quick” source of energy, etc. none of these things are likely to change in the near future, sooooo we will see! anyway, thanks for the support 🙂
so interesting!! i love having you as a mom resource for things just like this 🙂
i am SOOOO enjoying the fact that i can actually indulge now, as opposed to during pregnancy when i either had no appetite or was hungry but too big to eat much without feeling like crap!
i love this dialogue! thanks so much for your advice/info hilary. i usually do try to get in a good deal of fat from butter, oil, avocado, nuts, eggs, and the likes, but maybe since ive been on a huge salad kick )sometimes for lunch and dinner) i havent gotten as much fat? i have never tracked specifics of macros or the caloric or gram breakdown of my food, so i have no idea what the difference between egg (yolks) for breakfast vs nut butter for breakfast would be…i do notice that i tolerate a high fat diet quite well so ill pay closer attention to this going forward as it relates to my sweet tooth cravings 🙂
thanks brooke. isnt it crazy how sugar can be so addictive!! i remember seeing a 60 minutes on it. i agree that since i bake most of my own sweets its way healthier than many alternatives. the only reason i really wrote about it on the blog is because i have an addictive personality and since taste buds do tend to adjust…i dont want to be “needing” more and more and more sugar just to get the same satisfaction. funny enough, candied ginger is actually how i stop myself from continuing the dessert train. the really spicy stuff makes me have to chug water and kinda helps me stop and realize im not actually hungry. although it does pair quite well with chocolate… 😉
I agree with what you and a lot of others said, taste buds do adjust and the more sugar I eat the more I feel like I crave it.
thanks dee. to be honest im not REALLY concerned. i was just writing about it here on the blog because my sweet cravings have been kicked up a notch (a theme evidenced by my photos) and it just feels good to write things out some times.
i like the idea of mindful eating. similar to intuitive eating. if i truly listen to my body and answer it – i enjoy my food, and i dont end up eating things i dont want bc im denying myself what i do want.
good thoughts all around. thanks shana!
apparently judging by these comments! interesting.
ive heard that 500 figure before. even though i dont do calorie counting, im sure im getting enough and probably not going overboard. i trust my body to tell me what it wants and since i eat when im hungry and stop when im full (usually), i know its all good.
definitely try nut butter in oats!!!
such a good point about protein during pregnancy and carbs during breast feeding! im amazed at how smart our bodies are in knowing what to do and how to get what they need to accomplish it. im not really worried, especially bc i do make my own stuff (although i did go through quite the justin’s PB cups and uncle eddies cookies phase in the first week post partum).
i cant believe you like bakers chocolate! thats way too intense for me. i hardly like super dark chocolate – anything over 85% is too bitter. sweet potatoes, however, are PERRRRFECT. 🙂
well i did have QUITE the justin’s pb cups and uncle eddies cookies rut in the first week(s) post partum 🙂
like all food phases, im sure this will ebb and flow. no worries!
I can totally relate! My sweet-tooth has been off the charts lately.
I wouldn’t worry about it too much though. Like your eggs (and every other food phase) it will pass. Plus, if there’s any time to have intense sugar cravings, it’s now! You’re burning calories like a mad-woman.
(:
New to your blog 🙂 but I thought I would throw in a few thoughts …. first, the idea that “your body craves what it needs” is not true for me. When I am tired, I crave sweet. When I am thirsty, I crave sweet. When I am emotional, I crave sweet. When I am in pain, I crave sweet. When I actually need nutrients like vitamins and protein, I crave sweet. It has taken me YEARS to learn to “listen to my body”, and realize that the craving of “sweet” is just my body calling for attention, calling for its “drug fix”, and I have had to train myself to learn to listen to my body, in the sense of hear “the call for help”, decipher the real underlying needs, and then give my body what it really needs…. On a similar note, after a bad accident, I was craving more and more food, even when I was full. My physiotherapist suggested I try increasing my protein intake, because I was working so diligently on increasing muscle mass with atrophied muscles. With increased protein, my “abnormal cravings” subsided. My body was trying to tell me something, but I wasn’t listening appropriately.
As for chocolate cravings, have you checked out the blog called “Chocolate Covered Katie”? She has some really interesting suggestions for “healthy desserts”. This recipe for chocolate, peanut butter baked oatmeal might be right up your alley! Nothing like starting the morning with healthy chocolate! 🙂 http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/07/26/reeses-peanut-butter-cup-baked-oatmeal/
Another chocolate idea … I have started using organic cacao nibs. No added sugar or oil. Just chopped cacao bean. Eating them straight isn’t all that great, but adding them to granola, or into baking can give you added chocolate, without added sugar. I find that if I am really craving chocolate then eating them satisfies. If I am really craving sugar, then eating processed chocolate (even 85%) doesn’t satisfy because I just keep craving more and more sugar, and eat the whole bar, rather than the suggested 1 or 2 squares. 🙂
Note: I have never been pregnant, or breastfed, so I have not been through the process of hormones gone crazy :)…. I am just a fellow comrade on the journey for balanced health …..
Seems like the consensus is that your sugar cravings are no big deal, and I agree! It sounds like your diet is pretty balanced on the whole, so give your body what it’s craving!
Ha! I have a major sweet tooth all the time, am not pregnant, and never have been. I always say I would probably weight about 10-15 lbs less if I didn’t have a sweet tooth.
I eat oatmeal with nut butter and a banana every day for breakfast. And I love it.
i think you just need to go with what your craving and for a couple of reasons. 1. you know if you DONT you will just want it even more and be unsatisfied if you choose something else. 2. something you said in the beginning of your post, you were craving eggs like crazy, ate them everyday and then what happened? you stopped wanting them. your body knows what it wants and when it’s had enough. so eventually you will not want as much sugar anymore.
i use to get crap for eating so many peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but you know what, it’s what i wanted. then one day, it just didn’t sound good anymore and i made something different. as long as you balance in the long run i think you’re fine 🙂
ps i ate my weight in almond butter today. didnt even care, it’s what i wanted!!
This is TOTALLY random and unrelated, so I hope you don’t mind! I remember you talking about doing the 30 day shred to get in shape for your wedding, so I bought it and just finished day 13 and have some pretty bad knee pain.. I was wondering if you ever experienced that.
I’m not a mum, but to kick chocolate cravings (my major issue) I just make lots and lots of my favourite savoury foods to replace it. As long as calories aren’t an issue you can just eat nom nom savoury food until the cravings go away. For me, as long as I eat chocolate I crave it, so after a couple of weeks of eating savoury, I stop craving chocolate 🙂
Hey Girl!
I say nay to the intervention. I like eating what I want too and I find that eventually it’ll sort itself out. It’s probably just a phase! I was also wondering if maybe sometime soon you could do a post on how it’s been adjusting to being a new mom. How it’s been for you personally and for your relationship? My hubby and I are talking about have having a baby soon. I’m scared though because i’m happy with our life as it is right now! Any advice?
Love the blog as usual!
oof. thats a big one. ill think about doing apost but no promises.
in a nut shell, kyle and i have become even more crazy in love with each other and with our family. yes, parenting is hard and changes the dynamic, but its one of those things that you know is kinda inevitable. once its no longer just the two of you, its no longer the two of you. period. but you will have SOO MUCH LOVE for your new little one it wont even seem real.
advice? meh. my advice is avoid advice and do your own thing. no one will know whats right for you anf your family and your relationship except you.
nope.
hi linda!
thanks for the comment 🙂
i used to read CCKs blog back in the day. i use stevia but i try not to rely on it all the time for recipes. i have found if i just give my body the real stuff i am more satisfied. her recipes are almost all sweetened with nonsugar things like stevia, applesauce, mashed banana, etc. which i definitely appreciate as being a “healthier” dessert option, but im okay with eating sugar (maple syrup, coconut sugar, and other unrefined sources) in moderation.
anyway, its interesting that you switching up your macros helped fix your cravings. someone else mentioned increasing fat, so perhaps there is something to tweaking the ratios of certain nutrients in the diet.
hormones are crazy huh!?!?
I think always following what you’re craving, within reason, is the right way to go Elise 🙂
Absolutely look into it. The documentary is on Netflix: “The Gerson Miracle” and it’s inspiring & amazing. Like I said, not that I have cancer or anything, just that some of the basic nutritional principals seem to work well w/the IBS. I follow their basic guide of a carrot/apple juice and a leafy green juice each day. (Nope, don’t do 13 juices per day!) That seems to have worked some great magic for my pipeline. (and has made my hair get really thick & my acne has cleared)
My input is dont change anything….! Its not like you’re drinking a 2 liter of real coke with ding dongs.
Maybe be sure to pair sweets with a fat or protein so you dont have an energy “crash” later, but like the egg phase your body is telling you what it needs.
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