Health
Curb Stress Eating for Lasting Wellness
Health Points
- Move your body with a quick walk or stretch to release natural endorphins that ease stress.
- Distract yourself by listening to music, taking a shower, or connecting with a friend; prioritize quality sleep to curb cravings.
- Practice deep breathing, meditation, or journaling, and consider counseling to build awareness of triggers.
After a tough day with a grumpy boss and endless interruptions, reaching for ice cream or chips is classic stress eating, a common coping mechanism called “comfort food.”
Viviane Fornasaro-Donahue, a registered dietitian with Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital, notes emotional eating has biological roots like elevated cortisol increasing sugar cravings.
She says learned habits from family or work environments can also play a role.
“Not everyone is in tune with their feelings, so they reach for food unaware they’re actually using it to cope.”
— Viviane Fornasaro-Donahue
Signs include eating without hunger, boredom snacking, post-argument binges, or skipping meals.
These patterns can lead to weight gain and health risks like high blood pressure.
Common patterns include mindless TV snacking, all-day grazing, and late-night treats.
They can also involve rapid binges that ignore fullness or stress-suppressed appetite, creating harmful cycles.
“Taking three deep breaths can be very grounding.”
— Viviane Fornasaro-Donahue
Swap sugary comforts for these strategies to foster healthier habits and protect your well-being long-term.
Start small today—choose a walk over snacks after your next stressor and notice the difference.
