Stress Eating Explained

Hello everyone! Welcome back to the Positively Healthy Mom Podcast. I’m Laura Ollinger, and today I’m thrilled to introduce Sherry Shaban, an osteopath, health and life coach, and a dedicated expert in emotional well-being. Sherry has spent her career empowering individuals to take control of their health by understanding the deeper, often emotional, roots of their habits. Her insights on managing stress eating provide practical, compassionate strategies for those wanting to foster healthier relationships with food and self-care.

Understanding Stress Eating

Sherry and I both know how challenging it can be for busy parents to manage stress and emotional eating. When life gets hectic, many of us reach for comfort foods, which can become a habit we struggle to break. Sherry dives into the root causes of stress eating, explaining that it often stems from emotional triggers rather than physical hunger. By bringing awareness to these triggers, we can start to change our relationship with food and make more mindful choices.

Building Healthier Eating Habits

One of Sherry’s key strategies for overcoming stress eating is focusing on small, manageable changes. She suggests that listeners start by identifying moments when they feel compelled to eat due to stress, boredom, or emotions, rather than hunger. By pausing and acknowledging these feelings, you can begin to replace stress-eating habits with healthier coping mechanisms. Sherry explains that this gradual approach helps you establish lasting, positive changes in how you respond to emotional triggers.

The Power of Mindful Eating

Sherry is passionate about mindful eating as a way to break free from stress-driven habits. Unlike strict diets, mindful eating focuses on tuning into your body’s hunger and fullness cues. Sherry shares practical tips for practicing mindful eating, such as slowing down, savoring each bite, and setting aside distractions. These techniques not only make meals more enjoyable but also help reduce the tendency to overeat in response to stress.

Adapting Healthy Habits to a Busy Lifestyle

Understanding the demands of family life, Sherry encourages parents to find simple ways to incorporate healthier eating habits, even on the busiest days. She suggests keeping nutritious snacks available and planning balanced meals ahead of time, so you’re less likely to turn to quick, unhealthy options. By making small, consistent changes, you can nurture a balanced, sustainable approach to nutrition that fits into a hectic schedule.

Staying Motivated and Overcoming Challenges

Many people struggle to stay on track when it comes to changing eating habits, and Sherry offers strategies to help. She encourages listeners to be kind to themselves and to view setbacks as part of the journey, rather than failures. By focusing on progress rather than perfection, Sherry helps parents stay motivated and compassionate toward themselves, even if they occasionally turn to food for comfort.

Self-Care through Balanced Eating

Sherry and I discuss how balanced eating can be a form of self-care, benefiting not just physical health, but also mental and emotional well-being. She emphasizes that healthy eating isn’t about deprivation, but about nourishing yourself in ways that support your overall health. By practicing self-care through mindful eating, parents can develop a positive, resilient relationship with food, leading to a greater sense of balance and peace.

If you found Sherry’s insights helpful, don’t miss the full episode of the Positively Healthy Mom Podcast. Join us for more expert advice on understanding and managing stress eating to create a healthier, more fulfilling lifestyle.

Connect with Sherry Shaban

You can find Sherry on Facebook and Instagram, where she shares additional advice on emotional well-being and mindful nutrition. Be sure to listen to the full episode to hear Sherry’s expert guidance on transforming your relationship with food.

Listen to the full episode and tune in for practical tips on managing stress, nurturing a balanced diet, and embracing self-care as a part of everyday life!