Cookies and milk are okay some of the time, but what if you get cookie cravings all the time?

Are cookie cravings a sign you are addicted to food?

Or maybe your cookie cravings are trying to send you a message about something else in your life?

This post will give you a good understanding of why you are getting cookie cravings and how to make them stop.

There are 5 basic reasons you get cookie cravings!

1 – Hunger

By eating cookies you quickly satisfy your hunger.

Cookies contain a lot of calories, and they are available pretty much anywhere today and at a cheap price.

Cookies also contain lots of sugar which is quickly digested. If you’re hungry then your body knows it can quickly make that hunger feeling go away with just a few cookies.

Now of course there emotional reasons behind cookie cravings, and we’ll talk more about emotional eating below.

However, if you want to know why you’re craving cookies you can’t forget about hunger.

Here are some reasons you might be hungry and craving cookies:

• If you are on a restrictive diet and craving cookies, then it’s very likely your body needs to get more fuel. 
• People who eat clean or very “healthy” can accidentally undereat as well
• People who are very busy and productive can accidentally skip meals
• If you are very stressed then your body burns more calories even without exercising so you can still be caloric deficient just by thinking all the time!

Even if you think you’ve eaten enough food, a very common reason behind cookie cravings is that your body is hungry.

Remember your body needs a complete breakfast, lunch and dinner filled with wholesome foods in order to feel best. 

If you aren’t getting at least 3 square meals a day, along with a healthy snack or two, then your body will need more fuel from somewhere else.

Cookies happen to be a very convenient way for your body to get those calories and energy you might be lacking.

If you are running around and super busy, then you need something quick and convenient. Cookie cravings are an easy answer.

You can substitute cookie cravings for chocolate cravings, or cravings for junk food too. These foods provide quick forms of sugar your body can easily digest to make hunger go away.

2 – Emotional Eating

Are you really hungry for cookies specifically? This is a sign of emotional eating!

Or do you suddenly start to crave cookies all of a sudden? This is another sign of emotional eating!

Cravings for specific foods like cookies which arise quickly in the moment without planning ahead of time are signs of emotional eating.

• Are you at work and suddenly you want cookies? Most likely you are using cookies as a distraction.
• Cookies can also help temporarily take your mind off work and help with anxiety.
• Do you notice that you crave cookies when you have something important to do, or when your mind is foggy from working so hard?

If yes to the above bullet points then you are eating cookies for emotional reasons.

Genuine hunger cravings on the other hand are more vague and general. You may feel a desire to eat but don’t necessarily care exactly what you eat.

You’re at work and you’re hungry, but you don’t need cookies. You could have milk, fruit, whatever’s in the fridge, and maybe cookies.

Emotional eating cravings are specific. You have to have a cookie.

And if you don’t have a cookie, the feeling won’t go away. 

What type of craving for cookies do you experience?

3 – Boredom

Boredom is another major reason people crave cookies.

While boredom is a form of emotional eating, it’s a bit different than stress and anxiety.

Boredom is more about a lack of stimulation than it is about emotional distress.

However, the result is often the same.

People turn to food for comfort when they’re bored just as they do when they’re stressed or anxious.

Cookies are especially tempting when you’re bored because they’re easy to eat and they provide a momentary distraction from your boredom.

Everything about cookies is designed to make you temporarily happy.

They’re sweet, they have bright packaging, and they’re often associated with positive memories (like childhood birthday parties).

In other words, cookies are designed to give you a quick pick-me-up – exactly what you need when you’re bored.

So if you find yourself reaching for a cookie when you ‘re bored, it’s not necessarily because you’re hungry.

Instead, you may just be craving excitement.

And unfortunately, cookies aren’t going to provide the long-term satisfaction that you’re really looking for.

So if you’re bored and craving cookies, try to find a more productive way to cope with your boredom.

Take a walk, call a friend, or find a new hobby.

Do anything that will help you avoid emotional eating and the inevitable guilt that comes with it.

4 – Quick Pleasure

We all know the feeling. You’re sitting at your desk, working away on a project or maybe just scrolling through social media. And suddenly, out of nowhere, you get a fierce craving for cookies.

Maybe it’s because you’re bored, or maybe you’re stressed and looking for a quick fix of pleasure. But sometimes, even when you’re full, excited and relaxed, you still find yourself wanting cookies! So why is that?

There are a few possible explanations.

• One is that we tend to associate cookies with happy memories and positive emotions.
• Eating a cookie can be a way of seeking out that feeling of comfort and happiness.
• Another reason could be the simple fact that cookies are delicious!
• The sugar in particular can be addictive, and that might be why you find yourself reaching for them even when you’re not really hungry.

So next time you’re craving cookies, take a moment to ask yourself why. Are you looking for a quick fix of pleasure? Or are you simply drawn to the delicious taste? Once you know the answer, it might be easier to resist the temptation!

5 – Celebration

Cookies are often associated with birthdays and other special events. It’s not surprising that we might find ourselves craving them when we want to celebrate something!

There are a few possible explanations for why this might be the case. Firstly, cookies are often seen as a treat or a special treat. This means that they can be linked to happy memories or positive associations.

Secondly, the act of eating cookies is often accompanied by positive social interactions. Whether it’s sharing a plate of cookies with friends or family, or receiving a cookie as a gift, the act of eating cookies is usually associated with good times.

So next time you’re feeling the urge to reach for the cookie jar, try to remember why you’re doing it!

Why am I craving chocolate chip cookies?

If you are craving chocolate chip cookies specifically, the most likely reason is emotional.

Remember, emotional eating is when you crave something specific.

It could be that you are seeking comfort, or feeling stressed.

On the other hand, if you are just craving cookies in general, it is more likely that you are either boredom eating or celebrating something.

Boredom eating is when you eat even though you’re not really hungry, just because you’re bored.

Celebrating is, of course, when you treat yourself to something sweet after achieving a goal.

So why am I craving cookies?

The answer could be one of five things.

The next time you have a cookie craving, ask yourself which one it is.

You might be surprised at the answer.

How To Stop Cookie Cravings

For starters, you have to be clear about whether your cookie cravings are related to hunger, impulses, or genuine cravings.

Most likely you will have some combination of all three factors. 

This means you will most likely need to utilize a combination of all three solutions down below. 

Again, if you need any help, be sure to send an email to an eating counselor for help and support.

Let’s dive in:

Hunger Solution: Eat more wholesome foods more regularly

Here are some keys if your cookie cravings are because you are truly physically hungry:

1. Have a hearty breakfast, lunch, dinner. And maybe a snack or two.
2. Eat whole foods that come from nature for the most part.
3. Have a variety of proteins, carbs and fats at each meal
4. Try not to skip meals

There’s no magic secret here. This is basic nutrition information you’ll hear anywhere. 

But don’t make this overly complex. I can’t tell you how many slices of whole wheat bread I have with peanut butter. 

Whole wheat bread and peanut butter is a great snack.

I use this example just to show you that eating wholesome foods to fulfill your hunger needs doesn’t need to be complex or difficult. 

You really do not need to order food online or even spend much time in the kitchen to implement this hunger solution.

For dinner, a quick and easy option is brown rice, chicken and veggies. It might take 15 minutes to prepare.

And feel free to eat some chocolate or other foods that contain sugar, too. 

I’m not talking about eliminating anything from your diet. I just want to make sure you have a solid eating foundation.

Emotional Eating Solution: Learn the cues of your cravings and how to surf your cravings

One very useful technique to deal with cravings involves mindfulness. To understand this technique, imagine an ocean wave. 

Like a wave, the feeling of the craving grows and grows, getting more intense. It can feel like a press squeezing you!

Eventually there is a peak to the craving and then you experience something new. The ‘wave’ of craving feeling dissipates. It dies down just like an ocean wave after the wave peaks and crashes on the shore. 

So instead of denying the craving or panicking, just try to stay calm and try to ‘be with’ the craving until it naturally passes away. 

You feel the craving and notice how the feeling of the cookie craving gets more intense.

This ‘surfing’ technique also applies to stress as well.

When you feel anxious, then try to ‘surf’ your anxiety. 

Admittedly, this might be difficult in the beginning, especially because oftentimes anxiety and food cravings can appear together.

Impulse Solution: Make sure your environment does not visually trigger you

If your cravings are more like impulses, then you will need to study what triggers your cravings.

For example, do you reach for the cookies every time you sit down to watch a movie? 

Or maybe you always get a bag of cookies after you leave work?

In these cases it’s possible that your couch or leaving the office are environmental cues that create impulses to get more cookies.

To break your automatic impulses, it’ll be useful if you pause before you eat and question, “Am I really hungry or am I just eating out of routine?”

It will really help if you write down your experience using text – written or typed – as well.

You will start to catch yourself as you eat out of habit, instead of out of hunger. 

Then you have the opportunity to make a better decision.

Craving Cookies Meaning – Summary

There are few primary meanings behind cookie cravings:

1. Hunger: When your body is telling you that it needs energy, it will often crave high-carbohydrate foods like cookies.

2. Emotional Eating: Sometimes we eat cookies when we’re not really physically hungry, but rather looking for comfort or to soothe our emotions. This can be in response to stress, boredom, sadness, or even happiness.

3. Boredom: If you’re bored, eating cookies can seem like a way to pass the time and provide some sort of stimulation.

4. Pleasure: Cookies can simply be delicious and satisfying, making them hard to resist!

5. Celebration: Many people enjoy eating cookies as a special treat or to celebrate a special occasion

With that being said, let me know your thoughts down below in the comment section!

What’s the cause behind your cookie cravings?