Emotional eating is a hot topic these days. Recently the Lord showed me a few tips to help us recognize and overcome emotional eating. What do I mean by eating emotionally?
You may be an emotional eater if:
- You see and use food for a place of safety, as a friend, as a reward, as soothing your stress, etc.
- You see food as right or wrong, good or bad.
- You eat when you are not hungry but crave certain specific foods.
- You can’t stop eating (particularly junk food).
- Eating causes you to feel regret, guilt, shame, etc.
- You eat mindlessly without awareness of quality or quantity.
The truth is the food industry wants you stuck in emotional attachment/addiction to the “food” they create. They literally design foods to hit what they call the “bliss point” of fat, salt, and sugar that causes the body to crave more. God has a different plan.
“‘For the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
“Let us choose for ourselves what is right;
Let us know among ourselves what is good.’” Job 34:3-4
You are not powerless when it comes to emotional eating. It can be curtailed, replaced, and disciplined. Here are six tips that can help you move from emotional eating to nourishing yourself with nutritious food.
1. PRAY: Begin by asking God into your eating journey. Nothing is too small for Him,
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31
This verse is not meant to be permission to eat whatever you want, as long as you love the Lord. What it is saying is whatever you do, including what you eat and drink, ask yourself, “Does this glorify God?” God will show you what is “right and good.”
2. PAUSE: When you feel the urge to eat, determine if the urge coming from stomach hunger or an emotional need. This will increase your awareness.
3. ASK YOURSELF, “WHAT AM I REALLY HUNGRY FOR?”
“‘But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.’” John 14:26 AMPC
Everything you have need of is found in Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
4. GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE UNCOMFORTABLE
If you are using food to dull your emotions, get accustomed to “feeling all the feels.” Ask yourself what you can do other than turn to food to handle the present emotions you are feeling. Worship? Pray? Read? Rest? Take a walk? Cuddle with your fur baby?
Remember that the Lord walks with you through it all. Even the tough stuff.
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2
5. KNOW YOUR TRIGGERS
Ask the Lord to make you aware of that which triggers you to eat emotionally. Common tiggers are fatigue, pain, stress, loneliness, boredom, feeling ignored, not being heart, childhood habits, times of reward, and so much more.
6. MAKE A PLAN
When you are NOT in the middle of a triggered moment, develop a plant to handle your trigger moments. Ask the Lord to show you ways to handle the emotional situation in non-food ways. God is ready to assist you. Plan your meals and your grocery list when you are not triggered. Do not shop for food in an emotional or tired state of mind.
“‘Come now, and let us reason together,’
Says the Lord,
‘Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.’” Isaiah 1:18
I interpret the second half of this message as God saying, “Regardless of how you have reached for food in the past, I have a plan. Let’s reason this out together.”
Finally, Dear One, know that God is for you. He is ready, willing, and able to help you in your journey to greater health. “
“‘He is wooing you from the jaws of distress
to a spacious place free from restriction,
to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.’” Job 36:16 NIV
God wants you healthy!
Want to learn more about how you can gain greater health? Join me on the second Friday of the month for Created For So Much More Health
Next meeting: Friday, May 9
11 am – 12 noon Central Daylight Time
Notes and zoom link will be sent to those who register.
Email me at [email protected] to register