The short answer to this question is YES.
But.... sometimes it's a good thing.
One thing I discuss a lot with my clients is cravings. I don’t think cravings are necessarily bad. It’s one way that our body communicates to us, since it doesn't really speak English (or Spanish for that matter).
My nutrition school calls one cause of cravings, "the inside coming out." In other words, our past and our memories can call us to eat certain foods.
Here's an example from a Disney classic, Ratatouille.
*Spoiler Alert. I'm talking about the end of the movie*
One of my favorite scenes in Ratatouille is when the little mouse triumphs . The food critic gives a positive review because the mouse's traditional peasant dish reminds him of his boyhood.
(If you want to get really nerdy, this is actually a concept we learn from Marcel Proust known as involuntary memory.)
Food can taste better because it came from home. Or maybe it was forbidden when you were growing up and so it becomes all the more alluring.
The holiday season is certainly a time when we call to memory our past and our rituals that we have had in previous years. It's a time of year where we eat certain foods because of the day.
So as you festivate through the Christmahanakwanzika season, pay attention to which foods call your name. Why do you want them? I know I suddenly start hankering for copious amounts of sugar cookies because of happy memories of fun-shaped cookies and frosting.
There's a subtle shift to make when we notice these cravings happening. Realize WHY you're craving sweet things. It could be something simple like because you're blood sugar is low but it could also be that you're missing home or someone or a memory.
Do your best to attend to the REAL motivation behind your craving. If you're looking for love, get a hug from a friend or a kiss from your partner. If you're missing home, call home.
But sometimes, it can work as well to bake those cookies yourself and relive that experience.
Just remember you don't have to eat all the cookies to experience that memory.
*** For more information about cravings or if you need help with your holiday cravings, I'm currently taking clients now and throughout the holiday****