By now it should not be a surprise to you if I told you that I have been an emotional eater—a lot—throughout my life. Sometimes it just creeps up on me and I haven’t realized I am doing it. Recently, a friend of mine brought it to my attention again as we were talking about some things going on in my life that have taken me down that road again.
Stress, fatigue, sadness, depression are just a few of the emotions that often contribute to emotional eating. Food and eating have powerful connections to our emotions. We find comfort in food if we wish to keep feelings to ourselves. (This is something I am masterful at!) During celebrations, we reward ourselves with a buffet dinner or that indulgent dessert because we feel we deserve it. We even invite our friends to join us on that rewarding day and influence them to eat more, too. If you are not consciously aware of the role emotions play in your eating habits, you may begin to see the negative consequences in your body.
Emotional eating tends to make us overeat without being mindful of the kinds of foods that we put in our body. It is more than being hungry because the craving doesn’t necessarily come from our stomach. It is often a lack of self-love and self-care.
You probably know this about me by now! I am a huge proponent of meal planning It is one way you can get a handle on emotional eating. However, this week, I am not talking about the meal prep I do on the weekend to help me maintain a healthy lifestyle, but I am giving you some ways you can plan ahead that doesn’t involve the prepping of foods, just how you can have some tools to help you get off the emotional eating rollercoaster.
Reflect for a few minutes before you eat
Before you head to the kitchen, spend a few minutes reflecting on your physical and emotional state.
Ask yourself if you are physically hungry. If you feel centered emotionally and you are actually physically hungry, then eat.
But if you are feeling extreme emotions, try calling a friend or engaging in another activity for a few minutes—such as exercise, writing, or reading—to see if your “hunger” goes away.
Make a shopping list
Identify the foods your body needs to keep you going through the day. Making a list of what you will buy—and sticking to it—allows you to feel safe but honor the emotions.
Eat an alternative food
If you are fond of eating chips when you feel emotional, why not look for a healthier alternative that is relatively similar to your comfort food? Try making chips out of vegetables like kale, celery, broccoli, beets, and zucchini. Another option is to buy cassava chips online, at whole foods or thrive market.
Since my “go to” always involves something sweet, I often eat a Kind bar or take some Greek vanilla yogurt and add some organic cacao powder, Ceylon cinnamon, and some sliced almonds. This is definitely a healthier alternative to the bar of English chocolate I might want instead!!
Don’t live in deprivation.
Prepare your own food
Preparing your own meal is an excellent way to relieve stress. You can even express your creativity in cooking by customizing some of the ingredients and experimenting with flavors. It is also a healthy way to channel your emotions by giving yourself an activity to enjoy. As you immerse yourself in the process, you may realize that the distraction helped push away any negative feelings you may have been having.
Start your meal planning with your very next meal. Spend a few minutes thinking about what you already have in your kitchen and how you can nourish your soul with healthy eating.
Food doesn’t and shouldn’t be an enemy. You can still enjoy eating; just don’t eat to bring you joy. As with any change in lifestyle, start small, and the more often you practice meal planning, the easier and more quickly it will go!
What are some real solutions to this issue?
I am so excited about my new upcoming program called the “Sugar SmackDown!”
- What if removing that one thing from your life could get you the body you want, the emotional stability you need, and a life overflowing with potential?
- What if you could feel like ANYTHING is possible? Yes, even if right now, the ONLY thing you really want to do is binge on chocolate and sweets?
Together, we can extricate your vitality from the jaws of sugar and take back your right to feel fabulous every single day.
Because I know exactly what it feels like to crave those sugary sweet and savory treats, and then get on the rollercoaster of craving more and more + add in some emotional component as well, and we are headed down a slippery slope. The solution? I have designed a plan to give you step-by-step solutions to this age-old problem we find ourselves entangled in.
With this program, you get massive accountability, guidance, and support to create lasting changes and transform all areas of your life. You’ll never feel depleted – in fact, you’ll probably feel better than ever.
To find out more about this program that officially starts April 8th (with $50 off if purchased before April 1st), click the picture below to check it out
GET YOUR RECIPE HERE
VEGGIE TACOS WITH AVOCADO (WITH MEAT OPTION)
Click the picture to get the recipe
