10 Tips to Stop Emotional Eating

Emotional eating is a serious problem. The hashtag #stresseating has over 120,000 posts from all over the world, and there’s a reason for that. Here are some coping mechanisms to make sure you eat to nourish yourself with good-for-you-foods instead of indulging due to your mood.

1. Healthy snacks are the best way to avoid those terrible cravings. Fresh fruit and veggies paired with low fat dip are popular options. Same goes for nuts and popcorn without the butter.

2. Indulge in portion controlled amounts of what you crave instead of depriving yourself. Depriving leads to binging later on. Have a slider sized cheeseburger instead of a normal one, or maybe a few bites of cake instead of a whole slice.

3. Replace boredom with another activity – play with your pet, call a friend, go on a nature walk, listen to your favorite album or watch a movie. You’ll forget about that pesky craving in no time!

4. Take a mindful moment and think about why you’re hungry. Have you eaten recently? Is this hunger of a true physical nature or an emotional nature? Allow for some time to pass before acting impulsively.