Every year, the first heavy rain arrives, and suddenly pakoras, samosas and other comfort foods start sounding far more tempting. It can feel like the weather itself has switched on your appetite. But sometimes, what feels like hunger may actually be a weather-driven craving.
According to nutritionist and health coach Dr Ridhima Khamesra, there are a few clues that can help you understand whether you are genuinely hungry or simply responding to the mood, routine and comfort associated with rainy weather. However, these signs are not proof on their own and should be treated as clues rather than a diagnostic test.
The craving arrives even when you recently ate
One clue is timing. Physical hunger tends to build gradually, while a cue-driven craving can appear suddenly, even relatively soon after a proper meal. Dr Khamesra points out that a weather-related craving can sometimes appear around 40 minutes after lunch. If your stomach is comfortably full but you suddenly find yourself thinking about a particular snack because it is raining outside, it may be worth pausing before reaching for it.
Only one specific food will satisfy you
Another useful clue is flexibility. When you are genuinely hungry, several foods may sound acceptable. An apple, a bowl of leftover dal or another simple meal can usually satisfy the need to eat. A craving, on the other hand, can be much more specific. If nothing except something fried, salty or sweet will do, and you feel you need that particular food immediately, craving may be playing a bigger role than basic hunger.
That said, being hungry and picky about what you want to eat can happen at the same time, so this is not a foolproof test either.
The craving disappears when you get distracted
Try shifting your attention for a few minutes before deciding what to eat. According to Dr Khamesra, some weather-driven cravings may ease after around 15 minutes of doing something else. If you get busy with a task and the sudden desire for pakoras quietly disappears, that can be a useful clue that you were responding to the moment rather than physical hunger.
However, distraction is not a confirmed test. Genuine hunger can also temporarily fade into the background when your attention is occupied.
Grey skies make comfort food suddenly more appealing
There is also a psychological side to rainy-day cravings. Grey skies and reduced daylight can affect mood, alertness, routine and the desire for comfort. For some people, this can make rewarding foods feel particularly appealing. Dr Khamesra says this is not about a lack of discipline. It can simply be the brain reaching for a quick source of comfort, although the exact mechanism is more complex than attributing the craving to a single hormone.
For some people, simple changes such as having a warm drink, increasing indoor light or taking a short walk may help ease the craving. If you opt for a warm drink, keeping it plain can help prevent the drink itself from becoming another source of added sugar.
You don’t have to give up your favourite monsoon snacks
Recognising a weather-driven craving does not mean you need to ban pakoras from your monsoon menu. As Dr Khamesra puts it, the point is not to fight every craving, but to understand what is actually driving it. Sometimes you are genuinely hungry, and food is exactly what your body needs. At other times, it may be the rain, a grey afternoon or the desire for comfort making a particular snack suddenly irresistible.
Knowing the difference can help you make a more conscious choice without turning food into a battle. And yes, sometimes that conscious choice can still be a plate of pakoras.
Also read:
Chocolate, sugar or salty snacks? Here’s what your cravings could really mean
