Today was one of those perfectly beautiful days in NYC. The sun was shining, the temperature was just right for a light jacket, and the humidity had finally backed off. I had just finished lunch at home and instinctively thought about making a coffee or having something sweet. I usually like a little “something” to end a meal. Like punctuation at the end of a sentence. A period. An exclamation mark. Meals feel complete that way sometimes.
But today felt different.
More than dessert or coffee, I wanted fresh air. I wanted to leave my apartment and walk. Yet even as I put on my sneakers, I noticed I was still craving something. It caught my attention because physically, I knew I had eaten enough. My body wasn’t hungry.
So I started thinking about cravings in a broader way. Not the kind that sends you searching the pantry for chocolate or pretzels, but the quieter cravings. The ones that have nothing to do with food at all.
As I walked, I realized how often we assume every longing needs to be fed with something edible. We are taught to “treat ourselves” with dessert, cocktails, or snacks after a hard day. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying food. Through the lens of intuitive eating, I truly believe all foods are morally neutral. But lately I’ve started realizing that some cravings are asking for something deeper. So I asked myself, “What do I really need right now?”
The answer surprised me.
It wasn’t food. It was air. Space. Quiet.
I wanted to walk without rushing. I wanted to feel the sun on my face without looking at my phone every few minutes. No multitasking. No productivity. Just me moving slowly through the world. And honestly, that realization felt important.
There are days when what I’m truly craving is connection. Not another snack while scrolling mindlessly, but coffee with a girlfriend. Sometimes I crave laughter. Sometimes I crave not being productive at all. Sometimes I crave wandering through a bookstore, walking around a garden center, or sitting on a bench in the city watching people pass by.
Diet culture teaches us to mistrust cravings, almost like wanting something is dangerous. Like we shouldn’t dare try the trendy little “dot cake” everyone talks about because what if we enjoy it too much? But intuitive eating has taught me that cravings are information. Little whispers from the body and soul saying, “Pay attention. Something matters here.”
So now when I feel that restless “something,” I try to pause and ask myself, “What am I really craving?” Sometimes the answer is a sandwich. Sometimes it’s a brownie or a really good coffee. But sometimes what I’m truly hungry for is time. A quiet walk. Reading a book. A meaningful conversation. A moment to breathe.
And maybe that’s the invitation for all of us. Before automatically reaching for food, maybe we can gently ask ourselves what we really need. Maybe the craving is for nourishment. But maybe it’s also for rest, connection, creativity, or peace.
This week, I invite you to notice your cravings with curiosity instead of criticism. Take a walk. Call a friend. Sit in the sunshine. Buy the cake if you want the cake. But also allow yourself to crave a life that feels calm, nourishing, and fully your own.
And if you’re struggling to untangle emotional hunger from physical hunger, or simply looking for a gentler way to care for yourself and your body, I’m here to help. You don’t have to figure it all out alone.