How to Curb Emotional Eating

Eating snacks
Photo by Thomas Kelley on Unsplash

Do you find that one minute you are crying into your pillow because you had a fight with your partner and the next minute you ate an entire tub of ice cream? You can try to numb your feelings with food, which will give you immediate relief, but the actual emotion or feeling isn’t dealt with. Here are four ways to curb your emotional eating.

Increase Awareness

Start becoming aware of when you are feeling an emotion and when you reach for your favorite food. You will notice some patterns. Write them down so you can address and start adopting healthier habits when an emotion arises.

Plan Meals and Snacks

One of the main reasons people eat for emotional reasons is because they are disorganized with their meals and snacks. If you are full and satiated from your meals you will be less likely to reach for food when an emotion arises.

Meditate

When an emotion arises, instead of being rash and reaching into the cookie jar, take a second and meditate or deep breath and calm those feelings down!

Eat Mindfully

If you did reach for the cake when you were feeling angry or stressed, make time for the food, taste it, enjoy it, and move on. You will be less likely to overeat and feel bad after.