It should come as no surprise that food and emotions are related. According to Medical News Today, emotional eating can be highly damaging, causing you to gain weight and affecting your health and well-being. One way to avoid this is to let go of personal judgments when it comes to food. Instead of thinking "I can't eat that" or "I want to eat whatever I want, not what others think is good for me," focus on personal choice. Make choices that make you feel powerful and strong.
Step 1
Keep a food diary for at least a week. Every time you eat something, write down how you feel after eating. Note whether the food makes you feel satisfied or if you feel guilty after eating something high in calories or sugar. Note whether the item makes you feel energized and how long that lasts. Sugary snacks are often good for a short boost of energy, but they might leave you feeling weak and run-down in the long run.
Step 2
Go through your diary and make a list of all the foods that don't make you feel good about yourself after eating them. Then come up with healthy replacements for them. Choose low-fat, low-calorie versions of your favorite foods, such as low-fat frozen yogurt instead of ice cream, or baked chips instead of regular, fried ones.
Step 3
Make one healthy food choice a day. Have a side salad instead of fries with lunch, order a vegetable stir-fry instead of fried beef from the Chinese food menu or have a piece of fruit instead of a chocolate bar for dessert. Even if the rest of your food choices that day aren't the best, knowing that you made a single good choice can make you feel good about yourself.
Step 4
Choose foods that can get you closer to your goals. If you're trying to lose weight, try to choose foods that are low in calories. If you're trying to lower your cholesterol, introduce tofu and fish into your diet to replace beef and other high-fat proteins. You'll feel that you're doing something good and working toward your goals.
Member Comments