Cravings

garlic-flavored crab at Claw Daddy

Much of my day is spent managing my food cravings. Holding them at bay, really. The things I desire right now are inevitably fats (bacon, sisig, and crab with aligue), sweets (chocolates, cheesecake) or carbs (pasta)---or a combination of all three (baked potato with cheese and bacon bits). It takes up a lot of brain space, thinking about what I should and shouldn’t eat, and it’s not so rewarding, since in the end I usually give in to my urges.

When I looked up the meaning of craving, I came upon words I’d expect to find in a romance novel: consuming desire, longing, urgent need. Food cravings embody all those overheated descriptions, notoriously defying good sense. I respect my mysterious cravings for cheese, chocolate, fried and creamy foods and indulge them as often as possible without compromising my well-being.

my favorite Mexican salsa

Thank goodness that there are now new ways to cook that figure out how to indulge cravings without guilt. I gravitate toward tomato-based pasta not only because it safely satisfies my longings for carbs, but also because tomatoes contain large amounts of vitamins C, A, potassium and iron. It’s also an antioxidant that lowers the risks of certain cancers. I’m also addicted to salsa…no, not the lively, ballroom Latin American dance. It’s also of Latin American origin, made from fresh tomatoes, onions, peppers and cilantro (plus olive oil, lime juice, salt and pepper). It’s a standard accompaniment to tortillas and tacos, even with fried fish and steak.

salmon carpaccio at Pagliacci, a healthy option

refreshing jelly fish salad with century egg at Zong

I also have cravings for mushrooms---not the mind-altering specie that gives a trip of visual hallucinations, causes a lot of laughter, and an intense trip to never-never-land. I crave for mushrooms my grandmother used to gather at the banana grove after a stormy night. My grandmother said that mushrooms grow where lightning had hit the ground. For a long time, I believed that indeed mushrooms are food from aliens brought to earth by lightning, like manna from heaven (ha-ha). Aside from that, mushrooms are also rich in protein, fiber, vitamins B and C as well as calcium. Researchers believe that maitake, shiitake and reishi have phenomenal healing potential. These mushrooms have shown to lower the risk of cancer, ward off viruses, reduce infection, combat allergies, boost heart health, and help balance blood sugar levels. I love grilled fresh mushrooms like my grandmother’s---toss with a little oil, a pinch of salt then wrap mushrooms in banana leaf and place it over the grill. Dried and fresh mushrooms are also great ingredient in pasta dishes, sotanghon (vermicelli) guisado, mixed veggies, beef and oyster sauce, or just sautéed in butter.

magic mushroom?

“Death by Chocolate” would probably the headline in the tabloids after I was found dead from consuming too much of this dark concoction. Chocolate is one of my comfort foods. And who can blame me? Chocolate has captured the taste of people throughout the ages. The Aztecs and Maya associated chocolate with the goddess of fertility and had been drinking chocolate since 400 AD. Aside from being reputed as an aphrodisiac, dark chocolates are believed to have anticancer benefits. A study reported by the BBC indicated that melting chocolate in one’s mouth produced an increase in brain activity and heart rate that was more intense than that associated with passionate kissing, and also lasted four times as long after the activity had ended. But as we all know, too much of a good thing can do you harm. Every now and then, I still indulge in dark chocolates but with almonds---because almonds are lower in calories, high in vitamin E, protein and fiber, and they can also protect the heart. Dieticians recommend eliminating something bad in our diet and replacing it with almonds.

my favorite maki called Jurassic at Rai Rai Ken

My biggest struggle is usually in the morning, when crisp bacon and pancakes call to me. I was recently surprised to learn that some people, like my brother, Brian, actually crave healthy things, like laswa, an Ilonggo concoction of ampalaya, saluyot, alogbati, okra, malunggay, and the rest of the veggies in “Bahay-kubo”, boiled with shrimps or dried fish and shrimp paste. I absolutely hated laswa when I was a kid, the texture of vegetable leaves made me choke, and it usually resulted with my mother’s slipper hitting my behind. Eating laswa was like torture…the slimy broth reminds me of saliva, bribes, threats and lectures couldn’t convince me how nutritious laswa is. And this is one of my biggest regret…that I never learned to eat vegetables.

the defamed laswa

Of course, one way to surrender to cravings and still feel virtuous is to exercise---the “I ate French fries, therefore I will not use the elevator today” approach. Problem is I simply hate to exercise. Honestly, I am perplexed at people who make time to exercise every day. I’ve read all the benefits of exercise, and I do try…I go to the gym even when my “flesh” is weak and my “spirit” struggles and drags its feet. I have pep-talks with myself before playing badminton because visions of a couch and a good book beckon. Hayyy naku...Next time I have a food craving, I’d probably try a “Fear Factor Diet”! Ha-Ha