This blog post is the one of a series where we’re giving advice on tools you can try and see if they are worth adding to your ‘toolkit’ when you’re faced with emotional eating. Some tools will work for you and others you won’t find as helpful—check out our previous posts here and give some of them a try!

Getting a good night’s sleep plays a crucial role in maintaining a balance in our body and mind. It’s so easy to get caught in a bad sleep cycle: we wake up to a day that feels like an emotional rollercoaster and makes us eat emotionally as we try and counteract the effects of tossing and turning the night before. Overdoing it on these tasty stimulants—sugar, carbs, coffee, and soda—can not only add to those feelings of up and down but also prolong being stuck in the cycle, leading to another terrible night’s sleep and more emotional eating.

We have totally been there! Sometimes it’s anxiety that keeps you from falling asleep, or it maybe your partner tossing and turning wakes you u...

No, we don’t mean calling your emotional eating Bill or Angela (although if you think that might be helpful—go for it!), we suggest trying to name the emotion you’re feeling while reaching for food. Emotional eating is trying to satisfy a feeling with food that may make you feel good for a moment. Maybe that’s chips for you or maybe your sweet tooth calls for chocolate bars, no matter: when you find yourself reaching for these try and check in with naming what you are feeling.

You may start off by thinking “Am I angry? Or am I feeling sad?”. But these well-known emotions aren’t just the only ones you might come up with, emotions can be linked to each other and there can be a few layers. Other ones to think about that may be less obvious:

• If you’re angry, maybe you’re also feeling irritable or frustrated or jealous.
• If you’re sad, it could be that you’re feeling lonely or grieving or not good enough.
• If you’re nervous, think about if you’re also feeling embarrassed or confused ...

3 Causes for Nighttime Eating and Tips to Conquer It

Ok, if you’re reading this blog you must know 2 things. First, you’re certainly not the only one reading this blog. Second, you’re undoubtedly not the only one who struggles with overeating or binge eating at night. Breath a sigh of relief before you continue reading.  

Here’s what I’m hearing from other people about nighttime eating. See if you relate!

• “The evenings are the worse for me. I can’t stop snacking. I bounce from the fridge to the cupboard looking for anything sweet…but then sweet doesn’t cut it, I need salty after! I’m so good during the day but then blow it at night. I have no control”.

• “I snack way too much at night! I wait for my husband to go to bed so I can watch TV and eat my snacks alone, in peace – it’s MY TIME. I feel resentful when my husband stays up later than usual and I have to wait to eat my snacks. I also get really annoyed and irritated when my kids don’t go to bed on time and my precious ...