Have you ever felt the urge to reach for food during a stressful time? Whether it is preparing for an exam, stress from work, or having a hard day, food can provide a source of comfort. I’ve seen plenty of articles that discuss how to stop emotional eating and lose weight, but what if we shifted the view of emotional eating from all bad, to diving deeper into why we choose food to comfort us in the first place?

Eating for emotional reasons can be totally normal and OK. We live in a culture that uses food to celebrate, connect with others, and soothe. So what’s important is understanding why we are choosing food in these situations and learning how to identify other ways to deal with our emotions. After all, food may provide comfort in times of stress, but it ultimately will not solve the root of our issues.

In the most recent edition of the book “Intuitive Eating” by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, they discuss coping with our emotions by using kindness. In particular, they go into detail about emotional triggers such as stress, boredom, anger/frustration, depression, excitement, and wanting to relax/let go.

So when you are starting to feel emotions set in, ask yourself, “What am I feeling right now?” Take time with this question to uncover your true feelings. Am I feeling hungry? Am I feeling like having something to eat will help me right now? Even if you are not feeling hungry, but want to have something to eat, it is helpful to practice being more mindful with yourself.

Next, ask yourself, “What do I need right now?” If you are feeling exhaustion, maybe resting would be the best way to care of your needs. Or if you are feeling sad, calling a loved one could provide connection and a listening ear. 

As you are working through your emotions, here are some ideas of other outlets to help cope with your emotions: starting your day with a devotional, finding a quiet place to pray, journaling, going for a walk with a friend, listening to your favorite music, seeing a therapist, yoga and stretching. I know for myself I really enjoy listening to podcasts as I go for a walk in my neighborhood, and having quiet time in the morning to pray has been so helpful. Explore what activities help you cope with your emotions!

This week take time to evaluate your emotions and identify what you need in the moment. Know that choosing food as a source of comfort doesn’t mean you’ve failed, it means you’re human. Let’s practice intentionality with our decisions to soothe with food, as well as practice identifying how we may be disconnecting. This will ultimately help us enjoy food in those moments, rather than having feelings of guilt and shame afterwards.