You are sad, angry or feeling anxious. You go straight to the kitchen to find some sweets as your “comfort food” but not everything you eat can help you escape.
Many people believe that emotional upset directly causes overeating. However, eating problems are actually triggered by desire, according to Glenn Livingston, a psychologist and author of “Never Binge Again,”
“There’s not really an automatic link between emotion and overeating, even though it really feels like there is,” he said in an article posted on Psychology Today. “There’s more going on behind the scenes than people realize.”
Wanting to escape uncomfortable emotions is what encourages people to indulge in food. Livingston said people think comfort foods help them reduce their depression, sadness and anger.
But comfort foods could actually lead to other problems or even make negative emotions worse. That is because most people make unhealthy choices, commonly options that are high in sugar, salt and starch.
I – Word Understanding
Comfort food – a food that provides a feeling of well being usually associated with childhood or home cooking
Binge – doing and activity in excess, within a certain period of time
Behind the scene – not obviously / clearly know or understood
II – Have Your Say
1. Do you use food to escape negative emotions? What are your comfort foods and how do they provide you with good feelings?
2. What can you recommend as healthier options for dealing with stress?
3. Macaroni and cheese is the most common comfort food in the US. Comfort foods make us remember our childhood, past experiences and special home cooking. What is the most common comfort food in your country? Let’s take a look at some comfort foods around the world:
a. Chicken soup / Miso soup
b. Noodles / Udon
c. Chocolate & Churros
d. Dumplings
e. Porridge / Ochazuke
f. Mashed potatoes (w/ sausage, etc)
711 Does Comfort Food Really Comfort Us Or Are We Just Emotional Eating?
