Emotional eating isn’t something you can fix. And why would you want to?
By “getting rid of it, you’d be missing out on all those memories, connections, and those foodie moments. Emotional eating serves a purpose. In fact, emotional eating is only perceived negatively because of diet culture. How many diets have you heard of that promise to fix it? How many diets allow you to eat out of emotion freely? (Also, check out my blog post “Could Diets Work?”)
One of the main reasons we are so concerned about emotional eating is that we often turn to food for comfort. Those comfort moments can quickly escalate into overeating or binge eating. But that isn’t your fault, nor food’s fault. Emotional eating moments can turn into unhealthy patterns because:
- You use food as a bandage to replace or escape a particular emotion.
- You restrict yourself so much that you miss your favorite foods.
- You are on or on/off diets and can’t handle the pressure of the food rules (humans are also naturally rebellious…. But that’s for another day.)
- You are eating mindlessly.
- You judge yourself for eating emotionally and feel guilty ( = more comforting.)
- Your all-or-nothing mindset transforms the meal/snack into a feast.
This is where we need to work on understanding our emotional eating instead of condemning it.
You do this by tuning into your emotions.
- What am I feeling right now?
- How can I process that emotion?
- What can satisfy that emotion?
The great thing about emotional eating is that it isn’t about quantity but quality. Is what you’re eating meeting your needs and expectations? Are you savoring it?
Instead of fearing emotional eating, learn how to master it.
We agree that food isn’t going to fix your problems, but in a mindful moment, it can bring a sense of control & comfort that can be just what we need to go through those cloudy days. The key word here is mindfulness. Tune into your body when you eat. Notice how it makes you feel and how it makes your body feel. See how and why it gives you comfort!
Those mindful eating moments allow you to tap into your wants and needs while feeling in control.
You’re allowed to eat out of emotion, and in fact, I encourage it! Go eat something that reminds you of a happy time in your life today and be gentle with yourself.
Consider this your permission slip to eat emotionally but mindfully.