So say you have a really wicked craving for something... it won't go away, and you have a feeling soon you're going to cave and eat something really bad. You know it'll probably make you feel like shit afterward, but you are beginning to rationalize like wow.
I have this happen a lot. So I have developed a list of things I eat when I'm having very severe cravings. These are not all ideal foods, and some aren't strictly paleo, but they'll be explained just so that you don't get the wrong idea.
Soda/Pop
I've probably said many times before that I'm a recovering soda addict. I used to drink a twelve pack a day. Since January I haven't drank any soda like most people would recognize it... but when I'm having a really, really bad craving there are some paleo sodas and substitutes I make.
The first is ginger ale. To make the syrup, I soak ginger in some honey for a while and then use that to flavor carbonated water.
The second is stevia lemonade. Easy to make... just put lemon juice in water and add some stevia drops.
The third is homemade stevia soda. I take some Canfield's Sparkling Seltzer Water in orange or lime flavor, and add some stevia drops. The flavorings in this water are... well, sketchy. I have no idea what they are, but it's better than downing a Coke.
Cake, Brownies, Pie, other Desserts
When this happens I tend to make chocolate pumpkin brownies. They're fast and I always have the ingredients around. That recipe is here.
Another option is Larabars. These are pretty popular since they wound up on I think it was "The Biggest Loser." These are loaded with carbs and you shouldn't make them a habit, but they each have only a few ingredients and really taste like what they're supposed to. My favorites are banana bread and blueberry muffin. It's also possible to make something like them.
Candy
When I have a wicked candy craving, my go-to is dried fruit. This isn't something you should make into a habit, because they lack the satiety factor of whole fruit, but it's better than eating a Snickers.
Another option is to mix some honey, dried coconut, and nuts.
Pasta
Spaghetti squash. No, it doesn't taste like pasta, quite, and its texture is a little... al dente? But put spaghetti sauce and parmesan on it and it makes a not-unpleasing substitute.
Another option is eggplant lasagna. Slice eggplant thin and use it for the noodles (don't boil it). Otherwise just make it like any other lasagna.
