Cravings- What they really mean!

If you've been reading my random ramblings (alliteration for the win!) for a while now, you may have noticed I am a sucker for cravings. A sucker in that I get them often and don't generally ignore them. luckily for me I generally crave wholemeal pasta or roasted veggies or sweet potato and nut butter or oatmeal or... ok you get it- stuff that isn't gonna make me feel blah. Which is why I guess I allow myself to go with the wants.

It's never really crossed my mind before- what cravings truly mean, until I was standing here at my computer (I hate sitting down and so do all my computer work standing... yes I look a bit funny but I'm at home, so only my family can judge ;) and got a hankering for some hot ginger tea. (I am now standing back here at the computer sipping on some hot ginger tea out of my Christmas mug) The reason this sparked my curiousity into cravings was that I was feeling really bloated and sick yesterday and then just sick when I woke up this morning and- like I touched on in this post- my body smartly knew what it needed and made me crave it.

After a bit of research and several different interesting internet pages filled with so much info that it made my eyes cross for a while, I got a little bit of an idea of the science behind cravings. Apparently they're not as simple as you think!

First of all, whatever it is you're craving could actually be a signal of something completely different you need to eat. Confused? So was I!

I thought this was kind of cool... but sort of non-helpful for the person with the craving because you're body is screaming at you to eat chocolate when it really needs nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit! If anyone else has ever experienced a craving- a full blown, world has paused until this craving is satisfied, craving- then I'm sure you'll understand how unbelievably impossible it would be to pick up a carrot or apple.

Luckily for me, the only thing I really crave from this list is breads, pasta etc. However this makes me question the reliability of this research as it says I need nitrogen, which you get from dark leafy greens and nuts and seeds and I don't know how to communicate the vast amount of these foods that I already eat each day (I can fit a lot of greens in my smoothies!). So much that I don't think it would be possible for me to eat more without cutting out a major food group or three! Although maybe my body is lacking in nitrogen because I'm not absorbing it well from my foods or something. I'm not sure, but let's move on any way.

Science reveals that food cravings are not just strong wants, but actually stem from your brain, specifically the hippocampus, insual and caudate appear to be active during food craving episodes and that the memory areas of the brain are actually more important to food cravings than the brains reward center.

I guess that adds to the validity of the power and influence cravings have over us. That's not to say emtoion and desire don't play a part though- they most definitely do! Sometimes food cravings come about to satisfy an emotional need (calming stress, reducing anxiety) because some foods produce extra hormones- like melatonin or serotonin which can change how we feel.

I think I like this theory a little better because it makes more sense to me. We reach for foods that will make us feel better and they're not disguising something else you should be eating- chocolate actually makes you feel happy! (Even if it is only for about an hour;)

Some other theories include eating a diet lacking in variety will result in more food cravings, throughout history humans have had to survive famines and store excess calories- so we may be programmed to crave foods high in calories or even your craving reveals the type of person you are- likes order, has few regrets, walks on wild side, loner, creative, private (all this from something you really want to eat!).

 The best piece of information I found about cravings, would have to be this paragraph; revealing all the answers:

'A lot of people really enjoy chocolate.  It’s wonderful food.  But that’s different from having burning chocolate cravings.  When our bodies are being deprived of the fuel they desperately need to keep their metabolisms stoked, immune systems thriving, and hormonal systems in tip-top shape, they will cause us to crave whatever they think we’ll eat to get the necessary fuel.  For most of us low carbers, that’s chocolate.'

 My ending response to all this- if you have a craving, definitely fulfill it- just don't go overboard... and maybe do a little research into what that particular craving might mean (especially if you get the same one over and over again!)

In the mean time, I'm off to go make brekky (yes I'm having oats... I feel asthough they are one craving I could definitely never ignore!)

Your turn!
What's is you most typical craving?
Do you listen to your cravings?
Do you think they're a sign for something else you might be missing out on?

See you next time! (3 days til Christmas!) :D

Secret project revealed!

Hello everyone! I'm excited. Are you excited? Well, if not I'll add some excitement to your day by revealing the secret project I've been working on for the past week now. (Mentioned here and here in previous posts)

Ready?

Are you sure?

Drum roll please.......

Yep.
I made Zumbo's fairytale gingerbread house again! And it was just as challenging as last year!
Obviously the hardest part being sticking it all together. This thing is like 40-50cm tall and the 'glue' is simply melted chocolate (one of the reasons why I would not assemble it a couple of days ago when it was 39 degrees celius= 102 degrees fahrenheit- hello disaster!)

 Whilst assembling this house, I did have a lot of doubts (and needed a few extra hands- thanks mum!)

 As well as cups and candles.  But once that chocolate set, it was set good and somehow the ginormous gingerbread house stayed upright! (please excuse the sprinkles and chocolate scattered across the entire table... it was messy work)

 So I am pretty happy with how it turned out, the fact that it's still standing as we speak and the smiles it brings to those who see it.

 It's gonna be hard to break it apart on Christmas day that's for sure!

 All nicely wrapped up with a very large amount of cellophane and some pretty ribbons:

 This just happened to be the day when I went on my more exciting (and tiring) run, did some Christmas shopping, then some grocery shopping, then cleaned my sister's car... why did I decide to add a whole lot more stress and tiring-ness to my plate? I dunno- but when that house was wrapped up and positioned nicely (and safely) on our hall table... I collapsed on the floor :)

Which is why I was sort of surprised when I managed to work up the energy to not only cook dinner but make something really tasty!

 That, my friends, was two stuffed portobello mushrooms- stuffed with a chunky tomato, capsicum, eggplant and quinoa sauce-thing, with lots of spices etc. and a side of mixed veggie hash browns with a side salad of spinach dressed in lemon juice and topped with greek yoghurt.

 The hash browns were mixed vegetables grated- 1/2 a potato, 1/2 carrot, 1/2 small sweet potato, 1/4 grated beetroot, 1/2 parsnip with a couple tablespoons chickpea flour and 1 tablespoon olive oil all mixed together. Then with a heated pan on medium heat, pick up 1/4 mix, squeeze out excess juice and flatten onto pan- continue with rest of mixture and then place in oven (180 degrees celsius) for 15 mins.

Firstly I put the mushrooms in the oven for 10-15 mins to cook a bit then I sort of just chucked a bunch of stuff in a saucepan to make the tomato filling but I can tell you what it was- cherry tomatoes, capsicum, fresh basil, eggplant, onion, garlic, quinoa, tomato paste, chili flakes, pepper and cayene pepper with a bit of water and cooked until quinoa is ready (15 mins)

Topped with nutritional yeast and then placed in oven for 15-20 mins.
But seriously- if you're going to try anything from this dinner- try the hash browns wit the lemony spinach and greek yoghurt- such a great combo! Would make a brilliant side dish for anything! I promise you you'll thank me after trying this!

After dinner? Yep, I collapsed once again. Permanently.

Have you ever made a gingerbread house from scratch?
Do you hate sticking them together as much as me?
Do you like hash browns? I never really thought I did as a kid, but using all the different veggies make them taste soooo good!

Bye for now folks! :D

A spontaneous running day!

So I did something different today...

But don't freak out too much- it was good different!

I generally run every second day, to give my legs a rest in between each leg destroying workout.

 Today was that second day when I would generally run. I was a little extra tired and heavy from my deep sleep (*cough* I woke up, lifted my head, planted it back down on my pillow and fell back asleep) but when I finally managed to hop out of bed (around 6:15 am) I didn't really feel motivated for my typical morning run. I was getting bored with my route, it was so predictable, so over done and fixed in my brain that my body seemed to instinctively get tired around the ending and work up strength for hills etc.

So, when I laced up my shoes, chomped on a few delicious dates, tied back my hair and began my steady climb up our hill to the outside world (we live in a little cul-de-sac) I turned right instead of left!

 And I just ran. I ran wherever I wanted for however long I wanted.
It was great!
Seriously not knowing where you are going/ when you're gonna turn back home is kinda awesome. I think I ran longer than usual, harder than usual and enjoyed it a lot more than usual (which is saying something because I love running!).
I guess I was just over my old running route and spicing things up made me push myself harder... weird?

I also did a few other new things (it was that kind of day I guess!)
Upon return (extremely sweaty, legs= jelly) I drank my first ever coconut water for fast hydration! I didn't mind the taste, a bit weird at first but then it grew on me.

So I walked around the house, stretching out my legs, drinking my water, then went up to shower while my favourite steel cut oats for brekky cooked.

Unfortunately this also finished off my supply of two of my kitchen essentials:

 Organic vegan vanilla protein powder and ground cinnamon!

 However the bowl of oats was definitely worth it!

 Oats really are my favourite post-run fuel!

 So I was energised, hydrated with coconut water, clean and washed haired and smiling into a big bowl of warm oats... otherwise known as my perfect morning!

 Bowl spread with almond butter, oats poured in and then topped with peanut butter :).
Even more water- because running (and sweating!) sure does take it out of you!)

 And many wonderful spoons like this:

I'm thinking I might try this spontaneous running routine again as I thoroughly enjoyed it and am now prrreeetttyyy tired. Although I have spent the remainder of the morning last-minute-Christmas-shopping, grocery shopping and washing/cleaning my sisters car for her- so that might add to my floppy limbs! ;)

What about you?
Do you find mixing up your running routes helpful?
Do you drink coconut water?
Favourite after workout food?

Bye for now friends! :D

Catching up

Happy Friday friendly friends! Anyone else like Friday? Of course you all like Friday!

 Any-who, I feel like we haven't had a sit down and talk for quite a while now, it's been all the recipes/ link-ups/ all the other stuff! You wanna just talk? About food? Ok let's roll!

Firstly, I did not know you could make your own popcorn just by bying plain popping kernels and putting them in a bowl in the microwave/ in a saucepan (both requiring a lid of some kind) until just a couple months ago.

 I always thought popcorn only existed in those paper bags that had microwave instructions and heaps of oil and salt in them, or already popped at the movies, or in packets at the shops.

 I know, I know... really Steph? Really? So ever since I realised how easy it was to make plain old air popped popcorn without any butter/ oil/ salt, I've made sure I made up for the time I was without the pretty puffed corn.

 Like yesterday's lunch for example!

 This was exactly what I felt like and therefore exactly what kept me full and happy and satisfied (which is the same as full, but I ran out of words ;)

 It featured this delicious oven roasted sweet potato, which was then cut open, fluffed with a fork and then drizzled ( or dolloped..) with almond butter.

 A fresh crunchy salad of spinach, capsicum, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, lentils, red kidney beans and peas.

 And a pink bowl of popcorn. For some reason I always end up making waaaaaay too much popcorn and so this bowl was actually only half of what I popped. Lucky for siblings sitting nearby with similar popcorn fetishes. :)

Oh and I'll just throw in another photo of my baked sweet potato... because it was that good (almond butter and sweet potato has to be one of my favourite combos EVER)

 Moving backwards from lunch to breakfast- y'all know how much I love my smoothie bowls, right?

 Well, recently I've been feeling slightly under the weather (the cold hasn't come yet but I think it's trying to break down the door) so when I saw Amanda's post about her favourite green smoothie and how she uses fresh orange juice as her liquid, I thought that this would be a great addition to my fav green smoothie + help with the on-coming cold  and so subbed it in for the milk.

 Topping my spotty-dot bowl off with some peanut butter granola!

 Simply mix together 1/3 cup rolled oats, a handful of chopped raw nuts and a small handful of cranberries and raisins (chia seeds= optional) then place 1 heaped tablespoon on peanut butter in a small bowl with 1/3 cup milk (I used almond milk) and heat in microwave for 30 mins- stir then add to oats.

 Place in the oven (180 degrees celsius) for 15 mins or until golden :)
Topping off the yum-tacular green smoothie:

 And then devoured....

 The orange juice in the place of milk gave the smoothie so much life and zing! It tasted sort of tropical and fruity and the extra vitamin c is a big tick!

 The peanut butter granola just made the whole thing sparkle.

 With deliciousness :)

 So, whenever I'm feeling a cold coming on, I know what to do! A big bowl of hot chicken soup cold creamy nutty smoothie bowl will do the trick!

 I still think this is the best 'cereal and milk' on the planet ;)

 Great fuel for a day of Christmas present shopping, wrapping and working on my secret project (whilst belting out the odd carol or 25).

So there you go. A little catch up into the food of my life. No wonder I'm in such a good mood! I definitely believe food has the capability to turn a bad day into the best day- it has magical powers you know. :D

What about you?
Do you like Fridays?
Do you pop your own popcorn?
Does food change your mood?

Well I'm off- I hope everyone has a good day, eat something yummy and enjoy yourself. Do something you love. Be with the ones you love. Smile. Catch ya later! :D