When it’s cold outside and not much going on, some of my clients tell me how bored they feel–or lonely, anxious, depressed–and the one thing that comforts, the one constant, is food.  Especially sweets.  I usually explain that turning to food must serve some purpose, and I ask about the perceived purpose and the resulting impact.  How do you feel during the eating episode?  Then what about after?  Always the sequence of responses:  great/dizzy/occupied then guilty/stressed/anxious. 

The cure? Eat, and repeat. 

But we know this doesn’t work because it leads to binge eating (either a subjective or an objective binge), and when the episode is over the client feels worse–not better.  The very thing/feeling that made her or him eat in the first place is still there.  The boredom or the anxiety or the loneliness or the depression never went anywhere.  It was masked for a moment.  I encourage clients to explore this with me and/or with a psychotherapist, if appropriate.

Geneen Roth wrote recently (Good Houkeeping magazine, July 2009): “After having devoted a lot of my life to being anxious about things that never came to pass, I’ve finally realized that worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair all day and thinking you’re actually going somewhere.”  Geneen’s solution, which I adore: “[Notice], on a daily basis, everything that you don’t have to worry about. Everything that is already fine, vibrant, thriving.”

To close, as I tell my clients, when thinking of reaching for food, first identify if it’s from physiological hunger or from emotional hunger.  Then proceed accordingly. 

Winnie Yu, author of What to Eat for What Ails You (Fair Winds Press, 2007) shares some advice for the season:

Eat to Beat Stress

You’re knee deep in meetings when your financial advisor calls you to give you the latest grim news on Wall Street. The party for the in-laws is happening Saturday, and you can’t get a hold of the caterer. Meanwhile, you sense that the yoga class you’ve been anticipating all week is quickly slipping off the to-do list.
Stressed out? Resist the urge to grab lunch at the vending machine or the nearest mini-mart, drive-through or gas station checkout. It’s probably the worst thing you can do for your body when you’re under the gun. Eating the right foods when you’re stressed – which is rampant these days — can make all the difference in how you feel. Here’s your diet Rx for stress:
* Get your C. Loading up on this immune-boosting nutrient can help you survive an ordeal without succumbing to illness. It can even help reduce the physical effects of stress. Some studies have found that vitamin C can actually lower blood pressure and rein in the production of cortisol, the fight-or-flight hormone.
* Track down some B6. Vitamin B6 is involved in the production of serotonin, the feel-good hormone, which has a naturally calming effect. Good choices include turkey, tuna, sunflower seeds and bananas.
* Feast on whole grains. Got a carb craving? Reach for those whole grain crackers, which are packed with tummy-filling fiber. The fiber will help you feel full, so you’re not grabbing every treat that comes your way.
* Drink water. Load up on good ol’ H20, which will flood your cells with hydration and prevent you from energy-sapping fatigue.
* Steer clear of foods high in sugar, which will set you up for a crash and raid your energy stores. That means nixing candy bars, pastries and sodas.
* Watch that java. Too much coffee, tea and cola will flood your body with caffeine, a diuretic that can result in dehydration and fatigue. For those who are sensitive, caffeine can also worsen anxiety.
* Imbibe with moderation. It’s tempting to grab a cocktail after a stressful day, but watch how much you drink. Too much can disrupt your sleep, which is what you really need after a stressful day.