What Your Child's Food Cravings are Telling You

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Everyone has food cravings. Some crave salt, others sugar. I personally am not one who binges on  ice cream, chocolate or sweets, but I usually will crave cream soups, tart or sour tasting foods and bread when I am anxious, stressed or bored.

Until I began to study holistic nutrition, I never thought much about my cravings or whether they meant something. I just fed them, which is not necessarily the best way to deal with them from a health perspective. Now I understand that those cravings occur because my body is, nutritionally speaking, out of balance. Cravings are my body's way of telling me what it is that I really need for nourishment.

I have noticed that many of the students I work with develop cravings as well. Food cravings in children can give us valuable clues into what nutrients their bodies need. It is especially important to take note of cravings in children on medication, with chronic illnesses or medical conditions. According to holistic nutrition science, each craving is associated with a specific deficiency in a particular organ/system of the body. By understanding what system the cravings are associated with, we can use that information as a guide for better meal and snack planning for your child & your family

You can download the Food Cravings Chart  here to learn more about cravings and the body systems they are related to.

Many of our taste cravings, and those of children, stem from an acquired taste, (sugar and salt being the most common)  then become a taste habit that will eventually cause a deficiency in the body that will perpetuate that very craving. If we take note of a child’s cravings we can gradually take action to break the cycle. Giving in and letting them snack on salty chips, candy or sugary soda and other beverages only reinforces that craving or taste habit. Its best to make dietary changes slowly as to not create unnecessary stress or behavior fluctuations. Good habits are formed slowly over time just as bad ones are, so be patient as you and your child are re-adjusting to new, more balanced & healthy food habits.

Although not often mentioned, ALL artificial sweeteners should be removed completely from a growing child’s or teen's diet. These chemicals have no nutritional value, place stress on the liver and are toxic to a growing body. They have been shown to not only re-enforce a craving for sweets, but also to interrupt the functioning of both, the glandular & immune systems. If a child is properly hydrated, (with water) and eating a healthy and balanced variety of foods, there is no reason they need to have diet soda or any other processed foods containing artificial sweeteners. Other alternatives to processed white sugar and corn syrup are honey, molasses and (raw) brown sugar. Its important to keep in mind that although molasses and honey may contain some minerals and have other health benefits, they are still sugar to your body so please use them sparingly!

The following common herbs can be used in cooking or for making tea to help aid in the smooth functioning of the accompanying body system. It is important to NOT overuse as this can also cause an imbalance.

 
Circulatory system:
Cayenne, garlic, ginger, turmeric, rosemary, pomegranate tea, wolfberry (goji berry) tea
Respiratory system:
lemon, aniseed, cayenne, garlic, licorice, thyme, yarrow, chicory, horseradish

Digestive system:
spearmint, peppermint, chamomile, cinnamon, clove, comfrey, dandelion, garlic, ginger, turmeric

Urinary system:
parsley, cranberry, green tea & all herbal teas, corn silk

Male/Female hormonal system:
peppermint, thyme, raspberry, rosemary, chamomile

Muscles and skeleton:
Alfalfa, witch hazel (apply as a compress to swollen joints) ginger, basil

Nervous system:
lemon balm, lemon verbena, lavender, rosemary, *oats (*steel cut-not quick oats), chamomile & pomegranate tea

Skin:
Calendula, echinacea, dandelion, garlic, turmeric, *witch hazel (*do not ingest! Use as a compress over eczema, etc.)

Immune system:
Echinacea, garlic, ginger, ginseng, licorice, turmeric, oregano, peppermint, pomegranate tea


Incorporate as many of these tastes into each meal to minimize cravings and create more nutritional balance. Fresh herbs and spices are a great way to do this and add the benefit of naturally aiding digestion. Allowing your child to help select and prepare snacks and meals will give them a sense of self-reliance and will help reinforce good nutrition habits.

(Please check with doctor first if your child has food sensitivities or is on medications to avoid possible undesirable interactions.)




Related Articles:


Food Choices and Advertising Dollars

Hydration Tips

Water: The Neglected Nutrient

Yoga and the Senses: What's the Connection?

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