Death to Emotional Eating

It’s that moment when your palate becomes your only friend; the thing that you confide in when you need comfort after the entire world has abandoned you. You resort to the sweetness of your favorite desserts; you welcome saltiness so long as you can taste it, and your sour and bitter circumstances are suddenly okay if you can sniff their flavors as they melt away in your mouth.

Food. What is it about it that makes you think so clearly? They’ve always said that food is medicine but did they know that it could literally remove physical pain? The simple aromas can make you disappear in the moment and it seems that every chew has the ability to pull you away from the issues or fears you face. There is power in every bite…

…and the power continues after the bite is done. The power of food is extremely potent long after the last swallow. It’s like your worst frienemy in that it will play as your friend with its welcoming fragrances made to lure you to take a bite and act as your enemy by abandoning the emotional you that needed it most after temporarily soothing the internal issues that haunt you.

Like all power, the power of food is truly in the hands of the beholder. You can control its influences. You can deprive it of or fuel its strength. Food can work against us but only if you let it. Realize that food’s only purpose is to provide energy and nutrients for our bodies and while it’s absolutely true that it can bring joy in many artistic and culinary forms, the only power we should give it is that power to provide energy and nutrients for our bodies. This energy can then work to make us feel better physically, emotionally, and mentally.

With smart choices you can enhance the positive powers of food. However, be careful not to give too much power. It will take that power and run with it leaving you with cravings to chase it for more.

When you are sad, angry, upset, or distraught turn to the power of prayer, family, hugs, and laughter to heal you because giving those powers to food will weigh you down. Literally.