The Day after thanksgiving: Why am i still craving everything!?!?

The morning after Thanksgiving can feel like waking up from a fun but slightly chaotic food hangover. Between the carbs, the sugar, and the late-night leftovers, your body might be sending all kinds of mixed signals today. You might feel hungry even if you’re not actually hungry. That’s just your brain reacting to yesterday’s wave of dopamine from all the comfort foods we don’t eat every day.

Cravings today are normal. When we load up on carbs and sugar, our blood sugar spikes and then dips, tricking our brain into wanting more of the same. Add in the emotional part of the holiday, the family time, the stress, the memories, and the downtime, and your brain basically says, “Hey… let’s do that again.”

This is where we practice a little delayed gratification. Before reaching for more sweets or grabbing stuffing out of the fridge, pause. Drink a big glass of water, take a few breaths, and check in with your real hunger cues. Most of the time, we’re not hungry. We’re tired. Or dehydrated. Or we’re chasing yesterday’s comfort.

A few simple skills can help:

• Give yourself 10 minutes before eating anything you’re craving

• Step outside for fresh air to reset your nervous system

• Eat protein first if you really want a snack

• Identify the emotion: tired, stressed, bored, overstimulated

And if you’re going to pick up food today, lean into things that actually help you recover from yesterday. High-protein, high-fiber, calming foods like:

• Eggs, turkey, chicken, or salmon

• Veggies with hummus

• Greek yogurt or cottage cheese

• Apples, berries, or oranges

• Nuts or seeds

• A big salad with real protein on it

These help stabilize blood sugar, calm cravings, and bring you back to baseline.

You don’t have to judge yourself for yesterday. Enjoying a holiday is part of living well. Today is simply about rebalancing. Slow down, hydrate, feed your body something clean, and let the cravings pass. You’re already back on track.