The Best Things To Eat, Whatever You're Craving

The science of craving is tricky, and new studies seem to constantly emerge: One article tells us that carbs will trigger cravings for even more carbs, and fast. Another reveals just how much food production giants have tinkered their products to get us to crave them (over and over again).

An article in The Guardian got us thinking about foods we crave, as opposed to foods we like. Craving is specifically associated with dopamine; we need that neurochemical to be released in order to seek out a particular item repeatedly. When we’re kids, for example, we don’t like alcohol or coffee: They “taste like hellfire at first,” writes the author, “but when motivated by peer pressure, or aspirations to be grown up, we persist, and eventually learn to like and want them after enjoying the effects of caffeine and ethanol.” This is true.

Cravings do odd things to us. You might find yourself standing at the kitchen sink fishing sardines straight from the can, or eating cold, leftover shahi paneer korma solely for the texture of the cold cheese.

Here are some recipes for when specific cravings come out of nowhere. Enjoy, and be satiated.

Crunchy

Photo credit: Food 52

Sweet, Salty, Crunchy, Zingy Apple and Celery Salad

Salty

Photo Credit: Everyday Food

Salted Peanut Bars

Chocolatey

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Chocolate Pudding

Cheesy

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Baking Sheet Macaroni and Cheese

Sweet

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Ginger Molasses Sugar Cookies

Sour

Photo credit: Everyday Food

Refrigerator Pickles

Bitter

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Dandelion Greens Salad

Melty

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Provençal Tuna Melt

Spicy

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Avocado y Huevos Caliente