Are You an Emotional Eater?

It's a common situation in our society; overeating at a meal because the food tastes so darn good.  Who hasn't done that, right?  Another situation that is also very common, probably more so than you think, is emotional eating. 

Emotional eating is when you eat in reaction to strong (usually negative) emotions in your life.  These can include work stress, teenager at home stress, fight with a partner, weight gain, unemployment, money problems, boredom or dissatisfaction, and even rainy gloomy weather.

You're trying to deal with your problems with what you've come to recognize as comfort food.  But what happens is eating the food doesn't solve your problems, they're still there, and you've added more stress because you're now mad at yourself for eating that crap - a lot of that crap.  It becomes a self-hating cycle.  You eat because you're stress, and then you're even more stressed because you ate.  Nothing is solved and you feel worse.

If you're not sure if you're an emotional eater, keep a food journal and record what you eat and how you were feeling before you ate it.  It will jump out at you.  "Ate a whole banana cream pie" with "Stressed from work overload" or "Wolfed down 4 slices of pizza with the works" with "Had a fight with my mother-in-law" entries tell the story.

You'll find yourself pretty consistent with the foods you eat when you're emotionally eating.  So stop stocking the usual culprits in your house and have some healthy substitutes ready at hand.  

What do you normally reach for? 

If you go for something that crunches, try substituting with carrot or celery sticks, lowfat popcorn or an apple.  These will give your jaw a workout as you work through the stress.

If you want the sweet and smooth at difficult times, try lowfat pudding or jello, a healthy smoothie or yogurt.

Maybe you look for something salty.  In that case, stock your cabinet with beef jerky, roasted sunflower seeds, or pretzels.


Even better than reaching for healthier alternatives, find a constructive, positive way to deal with these emotions.  Turn to exercise as a way to fight boredom, work through issues and burn off stress.  A brisk walk in the fresh air can help put things in proper perspective.  Try "talk therapy" with a trusted friend who's a good listener.  Learn to communicate with those who are unintentionally causing you stress and do what you can to be assertive and correct problems.  Take up a new hobby that will help you channel yourself in a more positive way.  Start doing some daily meditation.  And don't rule out seeking professional help if you can't seem to break out of the cycle of emotional eating by yourself.