Stress Snacking
Whether its COVID-19, politics, or everyday life that has you stressed…
there are healthy alternatives to our stressed snacking habits.
38% American adults stress eat.
Half of these people report stress eating weekly…or more.
33% say they stress eat as a means of distraction.
Stress causes our body to go into “fight-or-flight” mode, creating hormone imbalances. Our body then wants to consume high-sugar, carbohydrate dense foods to help us fight off or escape the threat. However, we’re most likely not getting chased by a bear, we’re just watching the news. Since we didn’t use the energy consumed from the food, our body stores it for a later time. This is smart of our body, except that we know the chances of us getting chased by bears while sheltering in place is very low, so it just becomes excess weight gain.
Things to consider:
Hunger vs. Thirst. Clinical studies show that over 36% of people confuse hunger and thirst signals. Foods can temporarily satisfy our thirsty feeling because all foods contain some level of water. However, if all our body needed was hydration, we consumed more calories than needed. Always drink water first: when you wake up, before meals, before exercise, before potentially stressful situations.
Yes. We need to talk about managing this stress in other ways (like by exercising). However, the small steps you take today can have a big effect on you in the long run. Rather than trying to totally change the bad habit, identify small steps to work towards a healthier lifestyle.
The race is ran one step at a time. Let’s start by changing our stress eating/snacking habits. Focus on switching to healthier alternatives, ones that will provide beneficial nutrients, instead of empty calories. Then we can continue to work on managing our stress in different ways.
Ways to avoid stress eating:
Need Some Support?
Keep a food journal. Review it with your trainer.
Here is an example of a food journal that we use with some of our clients.
Click on the image for a PDF download.
We are not registered dietitians or nutritionists. However, we are trained to understand the connection between nutrition and fitness goals. We can help you understand that connection as well, giving you the knowledge to make healthy, goal oriented food choices. We will go through your food journal with you to identify weak moments, discuss healthier alternatives, and various adjustments you can make to better support your goals. We will also help you find better ways to avoid (when possible) and handle stressful situations that may come your way.
Chat with a trainer?