Avoid Emotional Eating

Many of us use food for comfort when the going gets tough in our lives. We reach for the chips or that pint of ice cream in the freezer — and before we know it, the bag or the container is empty and we've eaten ourselves into a stupor. All those calories — and did we even taste them?
Unfortunately, it can be hard to break out of the cycle of emotional eating. But doing so is important if you want to take control of your eating habits and live well.
To help yourself replace this reaction to stress with better habits, use these few simple rules:
Rule 1: Don't eat in front of the TV or computer screen. Chances are you won't enjoy the food as much anyway, because you're hardly paying attention to it — and because you're not paying attention, it's easy to eat way too much. Without the TV or other distractions, you can focus on the food itself — the colors, textures, smells, and tastes — and your meals and snacks will be even more enjoyable!
Rule 2: Organize meals with family or friends — without any distractions. Eating with others will move the attention away from the food and onto conversation with your dining companions. Don't lose focus on what you're eating, though. Put your fork down every once in a while and listen to your friends or add to the conversation!
Rule 3: Avoid using food to soothe yourself when you're feeling stressed. Instead, treat yourself to a warm, relaxing bath and let the anxiety drain out of you. Or put on your sneakers and go out for a brisk walk or jog. Either method can help refocus your mind and calm your body. Other strategies you might try include playing your favorite music, making a cup of herbal tea, or calling friends or family members to catch up. You can talk your problems out with them and listen to theirs, which may distract you from your own or help you put yours in perspective