Why Emotional Eating Isn’t Just About Food

Hold on one moment while I walk to the kitchen cupboard again—another mouthful of pecans for my already full stomach. Yes, I’m aware of what I’m doing. I know I’m emotional eating, and I even know why. Tomorrow, my husband leaves us here in Greece to return to New Zealand. At best, I won’t see him for three months; at worst, five. My need to squeeze every drop out of our remaining time together has turned into a suffocating neediness, and I can see it.

I also know the fleeting relief of being on my own will quickly shift into the weight of looking after our teen boys mostly solo, in a foreign country. And here’s what’s interesting: I didn’t realise until I sat down to write this that I needed to journal. This post started as a new blogging practice, but in just a few sentences, I’ve found clarity on what to do next.

Recognising the Patterns in Emotional Eating

I’ve been an emotional eater as long as I can remember—sometimes quiet, sometimes roaring. These days, I justify it with parameters: “It’s okay, it’s healthy food.” I don’t eat ice cream or lollies anymore; now it’s whole foods, no dairy, no gluten, minimal sugar. From the outside, it looks disciplined. But inside, I still see the patterns, the anxiety. It doesn’t matter if I’m eating homemade no-grain-ola or chocolate cake. The behaviour is the same.

How We Justify Our Choices

Lately, I’ve told myself I’ll “reset tomorrow,” but it’s been three weeks, and the reset hasn’t arrived. My mood is darkening, the cycle is deepening, and I can see where this path leads. The same place it always does: skipping vitamins, more TV, and sinking lower into the feeling that nothing works. Last time, it was “Bridgerton.” This time, it’s food and distraction.

I’ve learned that emotional eating isn’t something you can fix by eliminating triggers. I’ve done all the things: no junk food in the house (spoiler alert—you can binge celery sticks), yoga, journaling, meditation, walks, connecting with friends. They help, yes. But they don’t sit with the root of the emotion.

A Practice to Reconnect With Your Body and Emotions

It’s one thing to intellectually know what’s causing the emotion you’re trying to numb; it’s another to sit with it. I know that’s uncomfortable. You probably felt it ripple through you as you read that. But what if we could get curious about that discomfort instead of avoiding it?

Steps for a Body-Awareness Practice

When the food frenzy ends, and you’re left with the aftermath—whether it’s Big Macs or no-grain-ola—I invite you to try something new. Find a quiet space where you can sit undisturbed. Breathe and bring your awareness to your body. Ask yourself, “Where does this discomfort (loneliness, stress, abandonment, etc.) reside in my body?” Trust yourself to know the answer—it’s the same place all the food has been energetically drawn to.

1. Place your hands on that spot. Breathe into it. Not into your head, but into that space.
2. What do you sense? Is there a colour, a texture, a sound? What information does this space hold?
3. Approach it with compassion, not judgment. Move through it as though you’re exploring uncharted territory.
4. Invite healing into that space—perhaps it’s a color or a guide, or simply your breath.
5. Stay present as this alchemical process unfolds.
6. When you’re ready, ask the space again: What message do you have for me? What truth are you offering me?
7. Breathe out with gratitude, knowing your body holds deep wisdom—it always has.

How to Use Emotional Awareness as a Transformative Tool

Write down what came up for you. Witness yourself. How do you feel now? What do you now know to be true?

This practice won’t “cure” emotional eating, but it shifts your perspective. It turns something often wrapped in shame into a doorway of discovery—a way to reconnect with your body, intuition, and emotions.

Closing Reflections and Next Steps

Too simple? Or is that the part of you afraid to try again? I get it. The self-work can feel overwhelming. But it’s just one step at a time. If you’d like someone to guide you through this practice, to stand beside you as you explore, let’s connect.

I no longer see my emotional eating as a hindrance—well, most of the time. It still takes a few extra mouthfuls to remember my steps. But it stops the cycle. Each time I choose this path, I’m closer to healing the trigger, understanding the emotion, and finding my way back to myself.