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Emotional eating is characterized by eating when you’re not hungry. An emotional eater reaches for food when he or she is sad, mad, frustrated or bored. The calories that this type of eating habit adds to the diet can result in excessive weight gain and general lethargy. The best way to deal with emotional eating is to address its underlying psychological and emotional dynamics. However, a few food-related strategies may help.
Replacing Sugary Foods with Fruits
Stocking your fridge with healthy fruits such as peaches, strawberries and bananas is a helpful strategy for avoiding sugar in ice cream, candy bars and pastries. Frozen bananas or a fruit salad can be satisfying for a sweet tooth.
Using Water to Ease Emotional Eating
Each time you find yourself feeling bored or sad and reaching for sodas or sugary drinks, promise yourself that you will first drink a glass of water with lemon. Water helps to hydrate and energize you. Additionally, it fills you up so that you may decide to postpone drinking that can of soda.
Satisfying the Savory Tooth
Some emotional eaters reach for pizza, chips or other salty snacks when using food to calm their emotions. Choose healthier varieties such as baked chips or low-calorie pizza. Alternatively, melt low-calorie cheese on a bagel or other bread of your choice. This way you satisfy your savory food cravings while enjoying adequate nutrition at the same time.
While dietary recommendations will not cure the tendency to eat when feeling emotional, a change in a few habits can break up your eating patterns and reduce the number of calories you consume.
