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Last month I discussed journaling as a tool to help distinguish between real hunger and emotional eating.  Understanding that journaling isn’t always easy to do because of our hectic schedules, this month I wanted to offer you some “food”  for thought when you find yourself doing the mind numbing kitchen walk or when you find yourself staring into the refrigerator abyss for the umpteenth time!  If journaling hasn’t made it into your day quite yet, the next time you are pacing around the kitchen try asking yourself the following questions.
 

Am I an emotional eater?  Do I eat when I’m happy, sad, angry or bored?  Do I eat when I feel anxious or nervous?  Do I eat when I feel frustrated or overwhelmed?  I always eat when I procrastinate, especially when I have a work deadline or a major homework assignment due.  When I feel scared I eat.  Do I eat when I’m feeling badly about myself?

By asking yourself these questions you can learn about your feelings and how they identify with your patterns of eating.  Also, by naming your feeling you are acknowledging your feeling and allowing yourself to experience it-to “feel” it.  And by experiencing it you are no longer running from it and therefore taking the power away from the link between the feeling and the food.

Then take it a step further.  If the answer is yes I eat when I’m sad.  Then ask yourself, what am I sad about?  Keep digging.  You can’t solve a problem without first naming it.

Please remember.  If you find your kids muddling about the kitchen, opening the pantry umpteen times, ask them-are you hungry?  Are you bored?  Are you ok?  Adults aren’t the only emotional eaters.  Emotional eating severely impacts our children’s health.