How you can overcome food cravings and emotional triggers to heal your emotional eating habits

Emotional eating is when people turn to (usually unhealthy) food when they feel stressed or are struggling to handle difficult emotions. It is a coping mechanism that provides temporary relief but more often than not, leads to feelings of guilt and hurts your emotional well-being. 

Here are 3 ways you can navigate emotional eating and develop a healthier relationship with food. 

1. Recognize and acknowledge your emotional triggers

The first step in overcoming emotional eating is to become aware of the emotions that trigger it. Take a moment to pause and reflect on your eating patterns and see whether there are specific situations, emotions, or stressors that consistently lead to food cravings. Identifying these triggers will help you to tackle them. 

2. Try something different 

Once you’ve identified your triggers, the next step is to find healthier ways to cope with the emotions you’re experiencing. This can look like engaging in activities that bring you joy, journaling, or spending time with your friends. Handling your stress differently and finding positive outlets when you’re stressed or overwhelmed can help to break the cycle of turning to food for comfort. 

3. Practice mindful eating

Slow down and pay attention to the food you’re eating, savour each bite, engage your sense, and reduce distractions when you’re eating. Take note of the physical sensations and emotions you experience while eating. This can help you to differentiate between physical hunger and emotional hunger, making conscious choices that nourish your body rather than just providing temporary relief.

Dealing with emotional eating can be challenging, but it's possible to break free from the cycle. 

By putting into practice the above tips, you'll be on your way to overcoming emotional eating and creating a positive relationship with both food and your emotions. Remember, it's a journey, and every step you take towards a healthier mindset is a step towards a more balanced and fulfilling life!

If you’re looking for support on getting your nutrition right and learning exactly what to consume for better health, you’re in luck.

This is exactly what I help my 1:1 clients with and I’d love to help you too!

You can apply to work together 1:1 here, and if you’ve got any questions about nutrition, shoot me a message on Instagram.