A Week of Food Mood Swings

Day 1: The Perfectly Balanced Khichdi

Let’s start the week on a good note—Monday, the day we all say we’ll “eat clean.” And for once, I actually do. I make khichdi. Not just any khichdi, but the kind that’s perfectly balanced. The rice-to-dal ratio is just right, the turmeric gives it that lovely yellow hue, and the cumin and ginger add the kind of warmth that immediately says, “I’m taking care of you.” The carrots and peas give it that healthy crunch, while the ghee, of course, adds that soul-soothing richness. It’s the ideal meal for someone who wants to feel nourished but also not overly indulgent. At the end of it, I sit back, feeling like I’ve made a wise, responsible choice. I think about how good my digestive system must feel. Khichdi, it seems, is the food of the mindful and centered person.

And that’s how the day starts: calm, clean, and in control.

Day 2: The Morning After (Leftover Khichdi and Guilt-Free Munching)

The next morning, I open the fridge to find the leftover khichdi. My mind says “perfectly balanced breakfast,” and I obediently heat it up. But then, somewhere between the first spoonful and the second cup of tea, a realization hits me: Is this enough? My body craves something more. So, what happens next? I grab a handful of namkeen from the jar. Yes, I am suddenly that person who needs a snack to complement the meal. The savory crunch of the namkeen seems to be the perfect foil to the mellow warmth of khichdi. I feel like I’ve nailed the art of moderation: just enough junk to balance out the wholesome, but not too much.

My first food mood swing of the week: a little too balanced, perhaps. But it’s still early in the week. There’s hope.

Day 3: The Midday Chocolate Crisis

By Wednesday, I’m tired. The khichdi was nice, but let’s be honest—it’s not quite as satisfying as that sugary, creamy delight that my brain starts whispering about at 3 p.m. Enter the Dairy Milk. Oh, Dairy Milk—smooth, velvety, and that perfect balance of chocolatey sweetness that knows exactly how to silence all my stresses. I break off a piece, then another, and then another. Suddenly, I’m halfway through the bar and wondering how it all went so quickly.

The guilt sets in. “You promised yourself you wouldn’t snack,” I tell myself, as if chocolate were some sort of crime. But that’s the beauty of these food mood swings. A little moment of indulgence here, a slip-up there. It’s all part of the ride. But the sweetness of the chocolate does serve its purpose. I feel that quick surge of dopamine, my tiredness seems to lift, and life suddenly doesn’t feel so bad.

In the end, I tell myself, “Tomorrow, I’ll be better.” Spoiler alert: I won’t be.

Day 4: The Salad Day (Fighting the Temptation)

Thursday arrives, and I feel compelled to balance out my chocolate binge from yesterday. So, I make a salad. But not just any salad—a fancy one with kale, quinoa, roasted chickpeas, and a nice tangy dressing. I’m feeling good about this. It’s the kind of meal where you take a bite and feel like you’re doing something right. Like I’m somehow healing from my chocolate sins. This is me, my best self, nourishing my body like it’s a temple.

For about 10 minutes, I’m fully into the salad. Then, I think about that piece of chocolate I still have left. And before I know it, I’m back to square one. A handful of nuts? Sure. But you know what would really make this better? More chocolate.

The food mood swings are relentless, but I’m okay with it. A little kale, a little chocolate—balance, right?

Day 5: The Late-Night Biryani Craving

By Friday night, I’m tired, and my body wants comfort in a way I can’t ignore anymore. I make biryani. But not the slow-cooked, carefully crafted biryani. No, I’m talking about the 30-minute, weeknight biryani that comes together in a hurry—just enough spices, just enough chicken, and a good old serving of ghee. It’s perfect in the way only a Friday night comfort food can be. I plop on the couch, watch something on Netflix, and feel like life is on my side for once.

There’s no guilt here. Just the satisfaction of knowing that I made it to Friday, and that sometimes, food isn’t about balance. Sometimes, it’s about giving yourself permission to indulge and be happy. Biryani, in all its quick, flavorful glory, is the crown jewel of my food mood swings.

Day 6 & 7: The Weekend Free-for-All

The weekend arrives, and with it, the full spectrum of food freedom. A lazy Saturday breakfast turns into a brunch of buttery parathas with dollops of fresh butter and a side of tangy pickle. By Sunday, I’m picking at leftover biryani, maybe adding a spoonful of raita to balance the spices, but then immediately grabbing a few gulab jamuns for dessert.

The weekend is for whatever I want. No rules, no guilt. Just a celebration of the flavors I’ve missed during the week—rich, sweet, and indulgent. It’s the food mood swing at its finest. But that’s the beauty of food: it changes with you. It’s not just fuel; it’s comfort, joy, and a reflection of who you are at any given moment.

The Ever-Changing Food Landscape

Food moods aren’t just about what’s on your plate. They’re about the emotions that rise up with each bite—the joy of a perfectly balanced khichdi, the guilt of sneaking chocolate, the bliss of biryani at the end of a long week. Our relationship with food is ever-evolving, shaped by the highs and lows of life. And while we may never reach the perfect balance, the ride itself—the swings between health and indulgence, between nourishing and comforting—is what makes food so wonderfully human.

So, here’s to the food mood swings. May they continue to flavor our lives in unexpected ways.