Home for the Holidays: Emotional Eating Edition

What are some ways to avoid emotional eating when you're home for the holidays?

Over the years I've been asked this question by people visiting my WebMD message board and by magazine reporters writing holiday stories.

I think there are three specific things you can do to avoid emotional eating around the holidays:

• Stay on track in terms of your exercise program (helps reduce stress too)


• Don't skip meals (so you don't physically go to that vulnerable super hungry place)


• Eat meals with mostly whole foods that are balanced and satisfying most of the time

Then when you ARE around those "dreaded" childhood favorite foods your mom and other family members have made special...you will be more likely to enjoy them without overeating them.

The people who have asked me the question, "What do I do when family and friends put my favorite childhood foods in front of me over the holidays?" are usually looking for tips on how to avoid eating these foods altogether.

I personally would not suggest depriving anyone of a favorite childhood food over the holidays. Enjoying them and including them (in sensible amounts) in an overall healthy daily diet is the healthiest way to go physically and emotionally. When you know you can have these favorite foods if you want to and you are feeding yourself nice, balanced meals on a regular basis (so you aren't stressed or anxious or hungry from dieting), most of us tend to be satisfied with smaller sensible amounts.

What are your favorite holiday foods? Let me know and I'll post a series of holiday recipe makeovers (with color photos) in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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