If Food is Stressful

For many of our clients food can be a source of STRESS. Whether you struggle with an eating disorder, making nutritious meals, affording groceries, fueling your body for activity or preparing meals for other people, there are a wide variety of ways that food can be stressful. Here are a few things to keep in mind if you find yourself worrying about food, especially as the holidays get closer and time gets thinner:

  1. Every meal doesn't have to be perfectly balanced. You aren't a bad person for eating fast food if your normal food routine gets interrupted or you flat out don't have the energy to cook some days...and it’s okay if you don’t have fruits and veggies at every meal.

  2. Food judgment (ie good/bad) actually produces anxiety! Despite what diet culture may say, there is room for every kind of food in a balanced diet.

  3. No one expects you to be a Michelin-star chef. When sharing a meal (great idea for mental health) most friends are just happy to be spending time with you. Putting in effort is appreciated, but not mandatory! Don’t feel like you have to go above and beyond all the time.

Food is meant to be enjoyed and to fuel our bodies. While it is easy to get swept up in the omnipresent diet culture conversation, try to remember that what you eat does not define who you are. Reach out to us for more help if you feel stressed about food. We are here for you!

Written by Trinny Duncan, Student Intern and Peggy Pratt, PhD, RDN, LDN, CEDS-C