In the mood for food

It's no secret that we have all turned towards food when we are feeling stressed, sad or emotional.

When we are feeling a little down in the dumps our brain looks for comfort and pleasure. For some people this comfort and pleasure is food, and the endorphins that are released prior. By understanding this link, you can help overcome these cravings, and create healthier approaches to nourishing your mind.

Now I'm not saying that having a relationship with food is bad, but over time if it is consistent it can lead to patterns where emotional eating becomes the default coping mechanism for dealing with certain feelings.

To break the habit of turning to food each time, the next time you feel overwhelmed, sad or stressed you can try and implement some of the following;

• get adequate amounts of sleep

• engage in regular exercise, or gym activity

• manage your stress and anxiety levels (meditation, yoga)

• seek help and support from your loved ones

• read a book or listen to some music

• call a friend or family member

• make yourself a cup of tea or coffee

• maintain a balanced diet

The main aim is to not put too much pressure on yourself and allow mistakes to happen. This is how we grow and develop by not being perfect all of the time. If you are interested in trying to manage your emotional eating, I have a food diary template. This allows you can see patterns emerge with particular foods being consumed when you are feeling a certain way.

So, I challenge you, the next time you want to reach for that chocolate biscuit, tub of ice-cream or whole block of chocolate, implement one of the above changes and see how long it takes for you to forget about the first instinct of food.