3 Ways to Curb Emotional Eating

Everyone eats for comfort every once in a while. You may crave ice cream if you’re stressed, salty chips when you’re bored, or chocolate if you’re feeling hormonal. Occasional emotional eating isn’t necessarily a problem, but it can become one if it becomes the habitual.

Overeating comfort foods can cause blood sugar imbalances, increased inflammation, and weight gain, all of which can lead to serious chronic diseases. Emotional eating also prevents you from dealing with sadness, anxiety, and anger. Food becomes a drug to numb negative emotions.

How do you know if your eating is for soothing instead of hunger? Here are a few things to consider:

• When was the last time you ate? Notice if it was just a couple of hours ago.
• What time of day is it? You may be comfort eating if it’s midafternoon or late at night after you’ve already had dinner.
• Are you mindful while eating? Notice if you’re also checking email, watching TV, or just zoning out.

If you know that emotional eating has become a habit, here are three steps to help you break that pattern.

Hunger litmus test
You’re craving chocolate, but are you really hungry? What if you ate an apple or some carrot sticks instead? If you feel like eating “real food” would feel too filling, then you’re not hungry. If you’re not hungry, what is it you really want? 

Address the real needWhat is it that you’re really craving that you’re not getting in your life? You might not want to snack if you’re getting a healthy dose of primary food – the things in life that feed you, like loving relationships, a career that excites you, or physical activity. Which of these could you add into your life to feel happier? 

Maybe you just want a break from work – how about taking a walk instead? Or if you’re feeling lonely, can you chat with a friend on the phone, or set up a time to meet? If your job is a drag, can you make it more fun by having lunch with a coworker or giving yourself a non-food reward for finishing up your tasks faster?

Be presentThis is key to breaking the pattern. Practice eating without distractions – sit down with a plate of food at a table without any reading material or computer or TV screens. You can have calm conversation with a friend or family member, but otherwise, focus on eating only.

As Geneen Roth, emotional eating expert says, “If you pay attention to when you are hungry, and what your body wants, you end the obsession because obsession and awareness cannot coexist.” 

What do you do instead of eating for comfort?