• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to footer top navigation
  • Skip to footer bottom navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Skinny & Fit is Always Delicious
Display Search Bar
Follow me on Facebook! Follow me on Pinterest! Follow me on Instagram! Follow me on YouTube! Contact Cart

Skinny Fitalicious®

Because skinny & fit always tastes delicious

  • Weight Loss Coaching
    • Weight Loss Coaching / Free Consult
    • Client Testimonials
  • Free Class
  • Podcast
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Hormone Weight Loss 7-Day Meal Plans
    • Protein, Fiber, Calorie Calculator
    • Free Resources for Fat Loss
    • Megan Recommends
  • Podcast
  • Cookbook
  • About
    • About Megan
    • Policies
    • Contact

BONUS!

3 Smart Strategies To Stop Cravings So You Can Lose Weight!

Home » Blog » Weight Loss

Is It Normal To Crave Sugar

Published: Feb 26, 2019 · Modified: Aug 3, 2023 by Megan

Is it normal to crave sugar? I'm constantly asked by readers and clients why they're craving sugar and what that means. To me, the answer is obvious but to the general population not so much. Our society has gotten so far away from real food eating that what we believe is "normal" eating is now about as trendy as bell bottoms.

To understand what "normal" eating is you first have to ask yourself what is "normal" and how is it determined. If you look back through the history of time, a "normal" breakfast in the 1950's was eggs and bacon. A "normal" breakfast today is cereal which has about as much sugar in a cup as half a bottle of soda and is loaded with a ton of chemicals. Who said eating cereal for breakfast was "normal?" Food manufactures taught us this was "normal."

Food manufacturers know what sugar does to your hormones. Studies show over and over again that sugar increases dopamine, the feel good hormone in your brain. So of course, you're going to keep eating something over and over that makes you feel good. It's no different than a drug addict.

Is it normal to crave sugar? Is it normal to eat cereal for breakfast that's loaded with sugar? Is it normal to gain weight when you're eating added sugar?

Cereal started out as a trend that food manufacturers marketed to the general population and everyone jumped on this trend because it made their lives easier and made them feel good. Today cereal's considered "normal" to eat for breakfast and feed it to your kids. But just because something's "normal" does that mean it's good for you?

Let's think about other moments in history when our society accepted something to be "normal" that we now know is bad for us like smoking. Today everyone knows smoking is bad, but there was a time it was "normal" to smoke in offices, on airplanes and in restaurants. I remember as a little girl going to Big Boy's and people smoking all over the restaurant. Later, there were smoking sections and eventually, smoking was banned altogether from restaurants. Crazy to think there was a time this was socially accepted.

I believe what's "normal" is eating real, unprocessed foods that don't have added sugar and mess with your hormones. But I am in the minority when I say this because most people don't question the norms of society. The key word here is QUESTION. You have to question everything about food!

It's scary to me how few people in this world are questioning the norms of eating and are just following what the rest of the world is doing.

When clients expression their frustration to me about being overweight and not being able to eat what "normal" people eat I ask them to reconsider what they believe is "normal." Someone who eat sugar and junk and gains weight is very "normal." Someone who doesn't gain weight is "normal" too. The difference is their genetics haven't caught up with them yet to cause them to gain weight.

Growing up my Mom used to tell me, "if everyone jumped off a bridge, would you?" She always taught me to think for myself. To question things. To not follow what other people were doing and to pave my own path. And boy, I'm glad I listened to her because it led me to where I am today.

So, is it "normal" to crave sugar?

Yes, it's normal. In fact, the brain's preferred fuel is sugar. However, the source of sugar should always be from real, whole foods. If you're eating a lot of added sugar or your macronutrients are out of balance, then you will crave more sugar than your body needs. The body also has a natural tendency to crave sugar because it used to be scarce, but now there's an abundance of it everywhere.

Free Training

In this free training, I explain the causes of cravings. When you educate yourself in how the body works for weight loss and get back to the basics with your diet and lifestyle your cravings will go away. Watch the training now!

About Megan

Megan is a certified nutrition practitioner, author, freelance food photographer and fitness instructor living in Phoenix, Arizona. On her blog, Skinny Fitalicious she shares EASY, gluten free recipes for weight loss. Follow Megan on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates.

< Previous Post
Next Post >
55 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Megan is a nutritionist, author of the Low Calorie Cookbook and podcast host of the Dish On Ditching Diets. Megan helps women over 35 stop dieting, heal their relationship with food and lose weight sustainably. Megan lost 80 pounds herself. Here you get healthy, lower calorie recipes!

More on my weight loss coaching here

Popular

  • Healthy High Protein Burrito
  • A hand dipping a cracker into a healthier buffalo chicken dip with cottage cheese.
    Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip
  • Healthy Greek Yogurt BagelsHealthy Greek yogurt bagels made gluten free and low calorie with just 5 ingredients. A high protein bagel made from scratch that's easy, better for you and so delicious!
    Healthy Greek Yogurt Bagels
  • Low calorie healthy banana oat muffin on a platter with more.
    Low Calorie Banana Oat Muffins

Healthy Memorial Day Recipes

  • This Low Calorie Pasta Salad is loaded with vegetables and chickpea pasta. Made light with healthy ingredients this tasty, gluten free and dairy free pasta salad recipe is one you will make time and again. Perfect for summer eating as a side dish or appetizer!
    Low Calorie Pasta Salad
  • Coconut Greek Yogurt Fruit Salad! Made with fresh fruit, Greek yogurt, vanilla and coconut milk. This salad is a healthier spin on fruit salad. Paleo + Vegan options included. Low Calorie + Gluten Free
    Healthy Greek Yogurt Fruit Salad
  • Healthy Low Calorie Coleslaw made with Greek yogurt instead of mayo and no added sugar. This simple, healthy coleslaw recipe is bursting with vegetables and nutrients while being lower in calories and fat.
    Low Calorie Coleslaw
  • Healthy Chickpea Tomato Cucumber Salad is a low calorie side dish that's easy to make, delicious and doubles as an appetizer. A light and filling side salad that goes easily with any meal and great for warm weather eating.
    Simple Chickpea Salad

Some links on this site are affiliate links for which I am compensated a small commission if the link is clicked and a purchase is made. There is no cost to you. For a full disclosure policy, visit my Policies.

My Cookbook

low calorie cookbook

Follow me on Facebook! Follow me on Pinterest! Follow me on Instagram! Follow me on YouTube!
  • Weight Loss Coaching
  • Free Weight Loss Class
  • Podcast
  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2025 Skinny Fitalicious® Design by Melissa Rose Design Development by Once Coupled