Author: Mike Shmakov
Many of us turn to comfort foods as a way of coping with stress. There are a few methods to help ease this habit. Most importantly, you have to be conscious about this behavior. Practicing the habits that your ideal self would do can help turn that fantasy into reality.
Here are some helpful strategies:
Mindful eating
Pay attention to the food being eaten.
Acknowledge hunger and satiety signals.
Make your meal the primary focus. Watching TV or scrolling through instagram can detach you from concentrating on the food you’re eating. This can actually take away pleasure from the experience of eating physiologically, which can leave you unfulfilled after your meal.
Preparation
Organize pantry. Throw away old and expired foods. Opt for easy snacks like fruits, nuts, quest protein chips, and low-calorie popcorn. If you don’t have it, you won’t eat it.
Food prep: Cook some protein and vegetables for 2-4 days. It may be intimidating and time-consuming at first, but it will save you a lot of stress later. If you are unable to meal prep yourself, use a meal prep service.
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Quality over quantity
Consume healthy snacks throughout the day
Use smaller plates and monitor portion size
Make fiber and protein a priority with every meal
Fiber and protein both slow the absorption of your other foods. They also keep you more satiated overall.
Psychology
Your perception of self directly impacts your likelihood to engage in positive behaviors.
Practice self-care by giving yourself a 30 min block of time to do something that makes you feel good.
Doing yoga, working out, or running are great active ways to release stress. They don’t have to be seen as chores.
Reading, listening to music or a podcast, and even taking a long shower are all good examples of leisure activities that can be used as outlets.