Below are some tips on how to stop emotional eating, in the most safe and gentle way, so that you can achieve a lasting state of happiness on your journey to a healthier body and mind.
When your sweet tooth strikes..
Eating sugary or high carbohydrate foods can give one a rush of energy. However, the rebound effect is well documented, so if you want a healthy diet you will want to avoid the insulin swings inherent in the typical sugary diet. Instead, when you are craving sweets, salt and carbohydrates:
Choose complex carbohydrates or the lower sugar fruits like berries. These choices will result in a steady release of insulin instead of those dangerous spikes that are followed by low-energy, mid-afternoon crashes. Go dark. Dark chocolate is considered a superfood because of its many health benefits. Cacao is one of the best sources of antioxidants, which help in preventing cell damage and protecting against free radicals. Brew that cup of tea. Resist the urge to get your latte in the morning. Get your caffeine fix from a different source: green tea. It’s loaded with antioxidants and has tons of health benefits, including increase in metabolism. It’s also good for your heart and skin. Related: Easy Ways To Beat Your Cravings For Sugar›
When under great stress..
Reaching for food because of a low mood is a common habit of an emotional eater. This habit is usually picked up during childhood and can be very hard to shake. The best course is to do a little digging the next time you try to distract yourself using food.
Ask you self a few questions. What are you feeling that you want to mask? Can you remember when you first started to use food in this way? Finding the answers to these questions can lead to major changes in your relationship with food. Just realizing that you are eating to feel better can be illuminating enough to help you put the breaks on this type of behavior. Related: Why You ‘Comfort Eat’ + How To Stop ‘Comfort’ Eating In 57 Seconds Or Less›
Off you go to a mindful, better, healthy eating plan..
The next step is to simply replace the unhelpful emotional eating with a new and better way of eating. Mindfulness can help with emotional eating habits, pick the healthy eating plan that you like the best and go for it with the knowledge that your old habits were not serving you. Write down your meals in your journal, even when you stray from the plan. Remember to go easy on yourself and go for slow steady improvement over time.
Related: Healing Emotional Eating Habits With Yoga›
The above approach will help you to gently and safely change your eating for the better, and gradually help you attain your health goals. Once you understand why you are overindulging, and realize you’re eating for emotional reasons, you can dig even deeper for more healing.

About the author /
Dr. Mindy PelzDr. Mindy Pelz has been serving health to our community for over eighteen years. Her passion is creating simple, easy to implement health strategies for the busy Silicon Valley Family. With a degree in exercise science/nutrition, a postgraduate degree in chiropractic pediatrics and a history as a collegiate athlete, Dr. Mindy has helped thousands of active families implement wellness programs. She has personally worked with several Olympic and Collegiate athletes, academy award winning actors, and musical recording artists. She lectures all over the country teaching people how to drive their own health in whatever direction they chose.