Cravings are your body's way of asking for what it needs.

Almost everyone I know craves sweets! Instead of depending on artificial and sugary foods like candy bars, cookies or ice cream, try adding more naturally sweet flavors to your daily diet. Certain vegetables, when cooked, have a deeply sweet flavor. By adding more of these sweet vegetables to your meals, your cravings for sugar will begin to diminish. The next time you have a sweet craving, try this creamy carrot soup: Chop 1 large onion into thin slices. Chop 5-6 large carrots into medium-sized chunks. Saute the onions and carrots in 2 tblsp. of extra virgin olive oil for about 8 minutes, or until the onions are clear and soft. Place the veggies into a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 10-15 minutes, or until the carrots are fork tender. Drain the carrots and onions (save the water!) and place in a blender. Blend until creamy and smooth. Add some of the cooking water if you wish, to achieve your desired thickness. Garnish with parsley and enjoy!!

Your body intuitively knows what it needs for nourishment and healing and will ask you for it through cravings. Learn to listen to your body's wisdom.

Melinda Stein, M.A., C.H.H.C. Board Certified Holistic Health Counselor (212) 544-7768 awakenhhc@aol.com