Eating is one of the many ways we cope with negative emotions.   According to an article in Healthy Psychology, stress eating is “eating in response to acute or chronic stress or in response to negative emotional states,” such as sadness or anger.  While stress eating is a normal response to uncomfortable feelings, it only provides temporary relief. Over time, stress eating may cause a cycle of uncomfortable feelings and lead to more stress eating. The Todd County Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences taught 5 leader trainings on Stress Eating to help participants learn how to create a toolbox of options to manage stress and savor comfort foods to keep stress eating in check.

Twenty-eight people completed an end of the meeting evaluation.   Participants were asked to rate their understanding of the following questions before and after the program.  All respondents increased their understanding as to why stress makes it harder to make nutritious choices, learned more strategies to help them manage stress eating; and discovered ways to mindfully enjoy comfort foods.

When asked how likely or unlikely it is that they would put action in to place in the next 6 weeks, 100% said they were likely in some way to identify their sources of stress and note how it affects their eating behaviors; 100% intended to apply strategies to manage stress eating; 100% intended to mindfully enjoy comfort foods.

When asked the most significant thing from this program they would apply to their life, some of the responses included:

1. I'm going to try harder to avoid stress eating by being more active in things to enjoy.
2. I really like the stress eating management toolbox. It would be good to practice 3 of the strategies for a while and then start 3 more until they are all mastered.
3. Express gratitude and check in with myself.
4. Pay more attention to what and why I am impulsive eating.
5. Give myself some grace.