Many of the foods we reach for when we get stressed out are packed with sugars, fats, preservatives, salt, and myriad other substances, some of which we cannot even pronounce.
Food addicts rarely crave celery, carrots, or broccoli when the triggers click. We are more likely to go for chips, candy, cookies, ice cream, or other snacks that are high in sugar, fats, and sodium.
Unfortunately, these foods are highly processed and full of additives that may cause a food addict to crave them even after the emotional stress has eased.
Processed foods are readily available. You can grab a package of lunchables, a bag of chips, a package of wings and a soft drink, a slice of pizza, or a pint of Ben & Jerry’s at a drugstore, gas station, or supermarket at any time of the day or night.
This presents a few problems. For one, you don’t have a lot of time to consider your decision. Fast food, a fast decision. Then there are the aftereffects like gas, bloating, upset stomach, lack of energy.
Food is supposed to give you energy, not take it away, something to consider when making a food choice. All those additives may contribute to your food addiction by affecting hormones in the body.
Overeating prepared foods with lots of fillers, salt, corn syrup, dyes, and MSG (which has many names and can be found in numerous processed food items) can cause bloating and weight gains of as much as 10 pounds overnight.
The best way to avoid overeating junk foods is to prepare your own food, but since many people have gotten spoiled by convenience foods that you just pop in the microwave for a few minutes, another suggestion might be to just cut back.
If you eat packaged foods every day, cut back to twice a week. Cook a meal three times a week and use the leftovers in creative ways for lunches and healthy snacks.
When you buy chips, buy a small package instead of the economy size so when you eat the whole bag, it will be only one or two servings.
Wean yourself off sodas which are usually very in sodium that can cause you to retain fluid and try flavored water or iced tea, or watered down juice.
If you’ve been eating deli foods and other prepared foods for any length of time, it may be hard to go back to regular foods.
Carrots and broccoli don’t have to be smothered in a fatty ranch dressing to give them flavor. They already taste good–well, the jury’s still out on broccoli.
If you think you’re addicted to processed foods, you may be right. Make a pot roast and take a roast beef sandwich to work for lunch. Add a few strawberries or an apple with some cheese.
Treat yourself to a nutrient rich meal that tastes good. You could get used to it. After all, everyone deserves a healthy body.