Happiness 1st Institute Nutrition

It is not possible to separate food from emotion

Facts about healthy food choices are insufficient to benefit most people when they are stressed or overly tired.

Stress Impacts not only the choices we

make about food but also how our

bodies process the foods we choose.

Will Power plays a minor role in our food choices. Stress plays a major role in our food choices.

Goals and intentions play a larger role than will power.

Stressed bodies are uncooperative

.

. .. . .

We often recognize we are making poor choices but seldom

know what to do about it. This results in negative emotions

such as guilt, regret and even shame.

The negative emotions are more harmful to us than the bad choices

and the bad choices are more harmful because of the impact of

the negative emotions on the chemical composition of our bodies.

Making the conscious connection between the choices we make and stress level increases our motivation & ability to deal with the stress in

healthy ways and lessens the negative emotions about what we eat that do not serve us.

If guilt or shame about poor food choices is an effective method of enforcing healthy decisions everyone would make great food choices.

Com

fort

Food as comfort is so common that we take it for granted. We must stop ignoring the impact of emotions on food. Consciously recognizing the role stress plays in eating habits and providing techniques to help individuals in the moment they realize they are making poor food choices is far more effective. It is common for someone, in a moment of stress, to subvert their long-term goals for the immediate relief of comfort foods. Stress reduction skills empower individuals with alternatives to comfort food, in the same way counting to 10 is used to reduce undesired behavior when angered.

Healthy Alternative

71% of dieters increase food consumption

when stressed that individuals consciously avoid under less stressful circumstances.

Stress contributes to sleep problems. Daytime

sleepiness reduces the quality of foods chosen.

© Jeanine Broderick, 2014 Happiness1st.com

Contact Happiness1st.com for details about our programs. Develop stress management skills that empower individuals to make better choices.

We offer knowledge and skills training enabling any individual to change ingrained thought processes and undesired traits to reduce stress and make life healthier.

Learn More. Contact us today.

When stressed, 67% eat foods they usually avoid, 44% eat foods they

usually avoid for health reasons

Stress reduction techniques are expected to help equalize results in populations where

disparate health outcomes are typical.

Before we will set goals We must believe they are achievable

Mindset Matters