St. Anthony Hospital Health Article Library

Emotional Eating

Carbohydrates are a powerful antidepressant which makes it difficult to lose weight and stay on a diet.

Stress automatically causes most human beings to crave high energy food or comfort food. (We don't crave carrots, lettuce and celery with nothing on them after a difficult day.)

Comfort food is a way many of us manage emotions because it does make us feel better for a short period of time.

Tips for managing emotions:

1. Awareness. Be aware of when you eat when you are not hungry. Are you eating out of habit, while driving, on the computer, watching TV? Do I eat when I am bored, anxious, frustrated, down and/or depressed or angry?
2. Try not to eat while you are busy doing something else. When you do eat, eat mindfully and enjoy. Stop when you are full.
3. If you are angry or frustrated calm down by taking a walk, or doing something pleasurable that is not about consumption of food or beverage.
4. If you are feeling down, activity and exercise can help lift your mood.
5. Work on having positive thoughts and know that bad moods don't last.
6. Manage your stress and take care of yourself. What are you really needing
7. If you are stuck in an emotion (depressed or irritable daily) seek professional help. Many people are self medicating a clinical depression with food.

Are you interested in working with a nutritionist to help guide you in making a healthy diet plan and better handle the tendency to eat to manage stress. Consider an individual nutrition session with our registered dietician.

Courtesy of Andrea Bon-Wilson, MA Psychosocial Counselor