Every day when I get home from a long day of classes/studying, without fail, I head straight to the kitchen and feel like a ravenous monster. I want to eat everything in sight; I feel like I haven’t eaten in days. I did some research on why I constantly felt ‘hungry,’ even after I would eat. Stress affects hormones in our body that control and regulate appetite, which throws us off-balance, making us feel hungry even if we really aren’t.
The first thing I do to control stress eating is to avoid buying junk food. It is SO tempting going to the grocery store and wanting to fill the basket with chips, cookies, ice cream, and other ‘comfort foods’. My first step in avoiding this is to NOT buy them in the first place! And definitely avoiding the grocery store when I am hungry/stressed. I try to maintain a healthy diet as much as possible since I don’t always have time to exercise. When I prepare meals, I make sure they are full of proteins and complex carbs, so I stay full for a longer time after eating. I notice when I skip breakfast or am running late and forget my lunch, that is when my stress eating is the worst because I am not properly fueled for the day. I try to make sure that I eat a solid breakfast, lunch, and dinner – I make it a priority to incorporate these meals into my day – along with having healthy snacks on hand in between meals (such as almonds, crackers, cashews, fruits, peanut butter, or granola).
What are some of your tips to avoid stress eating?
