The current atmosphere has contributed greatly to increased stress for many people. And different people have different ways of coping with said stress -- one of which is stress eating. 

According to the American Psychology Association, 27% of adults say they eat to manage stress. In the long-run, this coping mechanism can lead to undesirable weight gain and a host to other health issues.

For instance, many people binge on unhealthy snacks such as oily and greasy fast food to comfort themselves. However, the experts at Dermatologist Singapore strongly advise against this since it often leads to acne flaring up. 

There are definitely unpleasant trade-offs for unhealthy binge-eating. So, to help you avoid paying those, we’ve gathered tips on how to curb stress eating:

Identify Your Stressors 

The first step is knowing the triggers that cause you to binge-eat in the first place. See what circumstances cause you to crack and have you reaching for the nearest bag of chips.

Once you’ve recognized it, it’ll be easier to prevent the stressors or divert yourself. Ask yourself too whether you really are hungry or there’s an outside force that’s influencing you to consume more than you need to.

Dump the Temptations 

You might have a bag of chips or a jar of cookies, or even a small container of nuts within easy reach. Get rid of those! If possible, stack them within your pantry, far from where you usually work.

Healthline suggests that having snacks within your line of sight leads to overeating and frequent snacking. It’s just another of the many factors that contribute to stress eating, along with the social environment, time of day, and the availability of food.

Practice mindfulness 

Not just mindful eating, but mindfulness in general. Mindful eating helps you properly appreciate the food that’s in front of you. 

Mindful eating is telling yourself to wait a few minutes before calling the nearest delivery app to order. 

It’s considering whether your desire to eat is being elicited by factors other than a physically grumbling belly. 

Some people keep a food and mood journal, which lists down how they’re feeling and what they’re eating, and what kind of emotion makes them consume more than necessary.

Another thing about food journals is that they unleash the negative emotions that come with stress eating by rationalizing. That can further help you steer clear of binge-eating

Find Social Support 

One of the problems of the current pandemic is the downwards spiral of mental health and the sudden lack of social support for many people.

This leads to loneliness and an increased chance of using stress eating as a coping mechanism.

Connecting through apps like Zoom or Line is a good way to keep yourself busy and find social support that can help you deal with stress eating

Find Healthier Options 

Finding healthier options for your snacking habits is a good resort. Instead of eating options like fried food, sugary snacks, and fattening mini meals, consider lower-calorie, high-protein snack options. 

Our shop carries a number or multigrain snacks, trail mixes, and crisps that are low in sodium and high in nutrients! Check them out if you feel like having a snack but don’t want to succumb to the temptation of junk food!

If there’s one last thing we can tell you about stress eating, it’s that overeating only feels good once in a while. In the long run, it makes you feel worse.

Doing it regularly is a detriment to one’s health. So, follow the tips above to stop yourself from giving in to the cravings when they hit!