Emotional eating is consuming food for reasons other than physical hunger. Humans are emotional, social beings and food plays a large role in interactions with others. Many celebrations and holidays revolve around food and dining together. This is a normal and enjoyable aspect of being social human creatures.

Emotional eating becomes problematic when people eat for reasons such as stress, boredom, sadness, anxiety or loneliness. Triggers for emotional eating are not always negative events. Some people find that they eat whenever they feel happy or excited. 

Tips for overcoming emotional eating:

• Harness the power of self talk - talk to yourself and about yourself in a positive way
• Rate your hunger - use 1-10 scale and if you're a 5, eat an apple. If you don't want an apple, chances are your emotions are driving the urge to eat
• Find alternatives - take a walk, read a book, or listen to music instead of eating 
• Three bite rule - the greatest pleasure of a food is in the first three bites; take three bites and fully enjoy
• Practice good dental hygiene - chewing strong mint gum or brushing right after a meal may deter you from eating emotionally
• Progress, not perfection - prepare for ups and downs and keep learning your triggers 

Source: GuidanceResources