new here, emotional eating/cravings

[thunder_bat]

though i haven't considered myself 'eating disordered' for a few years now, i have recurring cravings for steak. it's not protein, i don't think, because beans/lentils/eggs don't help. about once a month i get a jaw-clenching unbearable desire for a slab of meat

Comments

[bitchie_poo]

out of curiosity, are you female and does that craving come approximately a week before your period?

[thunder_bat]

it would be simple to say yes, but my period is so irregular that i'm really not sure. it never comes during my period, anyway.

[bitchie_poo]

it sounds like your body is craving iron, and red meat is the best source of that. research other iron sources - spinach is one, but you need to eat a LOT of it.

[eqfe]

spinach has a lot of iron, but it also has a high oxalic acid content, so that the iron is not readily available.

[jedimomma]

I don't have much help to offer, except that you could try posting this to the community "vegrecipes"--they might be able to help you out.

[roadkillonrt3]

i was a vegetarian for four years and that craving would happen to me a lot, for no apparent reason. i am no longer a vegetarian but only eat meat on occasion, and only if they are from hunted things like deer- for population control, or from local farms where i know how the animals are raised and slaughtered. i still love vegetarian foods, and tend to lean more towards a veggie based diet, but i dont see a problem in eating meat once in a while.

anyway! you can make some seitan and season it like meat, that was the closest thing i was able to make that had the right texture.

[roadkillonrt3]

if its* from hunted things, whoops!

[thunder_bat]

i'll try the seitan :) thanks!

[stacyinthecity]

Find a local source of humanely raised grass fed beef and have a steak once a month. If your body is craving a healthy natural food like meat, which humans are designed to eat, I see no harm in eating it, esp since you indicate that you have been experimenting with eating meat for a few years. Grass fed beef from a local farmer is very pollenesque.

[breakableheart]

I agree! If you can find a good source and you can splurge on a nice bit of meat once a month, well done!

[shutthef_up]

I'm one who tends to think that if you're craving something so fiercely and it's not absolutely horrible for you, then go ahead and have a steak. I don't eat a lot of meat, but I find it has really helped me keep to a balanced diet and lost weight.

Here in Colorado, we have a number of markets who sell natural beef, humanely raised without hormones. A few have great sales, too. Since you're only eating it occasionally, spending a bit more on a good cut of meat shouldn't be a budget buster.

[thunder_bat]

found a farmer's market. thanks!