MAJOR CRAVINGS & GIVING IN TO THEM :( ANY ADVICE WOULD BE HELPFUL!

So recently I have really been struggling to overcome my cravings for 4 specific food items that I used to eat pretty much every day.

I listed the nutrition info for these foods as well as put a picture of each one so that you can get a clear idea of what I am eating and talking about.

My situation is that I will be able to go 1 day or maybe even just half of a day eating all fruit and then BAM I just get this intensely strong craving for one of these 4 food items. Usually it's been for the tofu or the cottage cheese (yes, I know, not vegan), but I just crave the firm texture and flavor of the tofu as well as the thick and creamy/chunky texture of the cottage cheese.

I have tried to overcome these cravings by eating my favorite fruits like medjool dates, dried figs, and since my cravings mainly tend to be for salty/savory tasting items, i.e. the smoked tofu, cottage cheese, and bbq soy crisps, I have also tried making raw vegetable dishes with a tomato sauce...but...I still end up craving those foods no matter how full I get. I just can't get them out of my mind and even though I may be really full from fruit I am just waiting until the next day when my stomach will be empty and I can eat whichever of those food items that I am really craving.

Does anyone have any advice for me on how to deal with these cravings? No other foods are really calling my name besides these. But my desire for them is really strong and I don't know why.

Also, I am not at a point where I am comfortable eating say 6,000 calories of fruit just to make myself so stuffed that I couldn't eat anything at all cooked or raw. My goal is 2,500 raw calories for now and I am not comfortable going over that amount since I am not wanting to gain more weight.

Do you think my cravings for these foods could be emotional? Physiological? Is it the sodium? Texture? Strong flavor?

(1) QUAKER CHOCOLATE RICE SNACKS (there is a carmel version that I will also buy)

Quaker Quakes - Chocolate

Nutrition facts for 1 whole bag ...because I always eat the whole thing

360 calories

4.5 grams fat

78 grams carbs

6 grams protein

300mg sodium

3 grams fiber

21 grams sugar

(2) BREAKSTONE'S COTTAGE CHEESE (note: I will usually, but not always, eat all four snack size cups)

Nutrition facts for 1 snack size container

90 calories

2.5 grams fat

6 grams carbs

11 grams protein

380mg sodium

0 grams fiber

4 grams sugar

Nutrition facts for all 4 snack size containers

360 calories

10 grams fat

24 grams carbs

44 grams protein

1520mg sodium

0 grams fiber

16 grams sugar

(3) BBQ SOY CRISPS

BFG60459 - GenisoyZesty Barbeque Soy Crisps

Nutrition facts for 1 whole bag ...because I always eat the whole thing

385 calories

10.5 grams fat

49 grams carbs

24.5 grams protein

945mg sodium

7 grams fiber

3.5 grams sugar

(4) SOY BOY SMOKED TOFU

Nutrition facts for 2 tofu blocks (i.e. one entire package)

400 calories

20 grams fat

14 grams carbs

40 grams protein

960mg sodium

0 grams fiber

6 grams sugar

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Permalink Reply by Myca on April 15, 2012 at 3:38pm

I call it 'withdrawal' ...These things are really difficult to break free from. Eli brought out some really good points. Keep working at it. You are craving fat, salt, chocolate and probably a few other things. Studies are coming out all the time on how addictive our SAD food is.

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Permalink Reply by DURIANRIDER on April 16, 2012 at 11:45am

You can eat 6000cals of FRUIT for days on end? ID LOVE TO SEE THAT IN A YOUTUBE VIDEO!!!

Remember that cheese goes STRAIGHT TO YOUR HIPS AS FAT!! Even low fat cheese promotes rapid weight gain. If you want RAPID WEIGHT GAIN then EAT DAIRY! lol!

Why do you think whey protein powder and colostrum are so popular in the 'mass gaining' industry. ;)

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Permalink Reply by DURIANRIDER on April 16, 2012 at 11:48am

Ive eaten lots of tofu before. Did'nt make me fat but all the fat in it sure did make me feel 'swimmy' the next day from blood sugar variations.

Tofu a few times a month could be fine but its a high fat food for sure so shouldnt be a regular. Same with avo, nuts and seeds. I mean if one wants to 'gain more mass' then these 'mass building' foods should be regularly consumed. Im lazy though so like staying light weight via high carb. Means I can win running races with less effort lol!

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Permalink Reply by Jessica on April 16, 2012 at 12:58pm

I've come to realize that the tofu only tastes good to me because of what is added to it for flavoring. I've had plain tofu before, and YUCK! It's SO plain. I know that I just need to go cold turkey with the foods I'm addicted to. They're all high in sodium and just filled with fake ingredients and additives. And if I wasn't worried about weight gain I would TOTALLY take on your challenge of doing 6,000 calories a day of fruit for a period of time. I know I could do it. Seriously, my stomach is incredible. Give me a few boxes of medjool dates, dried figs, mangos, and juice. I mean that's like only 29 medjool dates at each meal. Easy peasy.