| Stop the snacking and learn to recognize when it’s emotional or physical hunger |
EMOTIONAL HUNGER is an issue that many of us deal with, much to the chagrin of our waistlines! It’s especially prevalent during the holidays, as both stress and food are available in large helpings. However, we all have to eat, and it’s important to be able to tell the difference between wanting to eat to comfort yourself during tough or stressful times and needing to eat to fuel your body for overall good health. Know the difference between emotional and physical hunger and stop feeding your feelings with our pop quiz!
1. True or False? It is easy to mistake emotional for physical hunger because emotional hunger is so powerful.
2. Which of the following are markers of emotional hunger?
A. You want to eat because you feel stressed or upset.
B. You want to eat even though you feel full.
C. You crave specific foods to satisfy your hunger.
D. You feel hungry all the time.
E. All of the Above
3. One way to tell the difference between emotional and physical hunger is to follow this rule: Emotional hunger comes on _______, and physical hunger comes on _______.
A. Suddenly; Gradually
B. Slowly; Quickly
C. Always; Never
D. None of the Above
4. Which of the following are indicators of physical hunger?
A. You crave a certain food.
B. Eating sounds like it will make you feel happier or calmer.
C. You are bored.
D. Your stomach rumbles or “feels” hungry.
5. Emotional hunger oftentimes can lead to which of the following?
A. Feeling full
B. A calm state
C. Mindless eating
D. A feeling of satisfaction
6. Which is another way to tell emotional and physical hunger apart?
A. Physical hunger only occurs at breakfast and emotional hunger only occurs at dinner.
B. Physical hunger can be satisfied with a variety of foods, while emotional eating requires specific foods.
C. Emotional hunger is easily satisfied with food, while physical hunger will return again and again.
D. None of the Above
7. True or False? You only need to watch out for emotional hunger during stressful times.
8. Which is another difference between emotional and physical hunger?
A. You are only emotionally hungry when you are alone.
B. Physical hunger is never present at the end of the day.
C. Physical hunger is satisfied once you are full, while emotional eating is never satisfied.
D. Only healthy foods will satisfy physical hunger.
9. Which of the following are examples of emotional hunger?
A. Wanting double desserts to celebrate a promotion.
B. Needing to buy and eat an entire bag of potato chips after arguing with your significant other.
C. Feeling like snacking on whatever is in the fridge because there is nothing else to do.
D. All of the Above
10. Which of the following are examples of physical hunger?
A. You are hungry for anything at breakfast time.
B. You feel a need to eat after an intense workout.
C. Your stomach is rumbling before dinner because you skipped lunch.
D. All of the Above.
ANSWERS:
1. True. According to HelpGuide.org, emotional hunger can seem like physical hunger because people use it so often to deal with their feelings.
2. E) All of the Above. Emotional hunger is usually triggered by stress or heightened emotions and isn’t connected to normal physical hunger.
3. A) Suddenly; Gradually. Emotional hunger comes on quickly in response to how you are feeling while physical hunger comes on slowly. Physical hunger can usually wait while emotional hunger cannot!
4. D) Your stomach rumbles or “feels” hungry. Physical hunger offers a physical component— that rumbling in the stomach— that emotional hunger does not.
5. C) Mindless eating. With emotional eating, you turn to food to boost your mood or to make yourself feel better, but it generally only leads to consuming empty calories. Furthermore, the underlying emotional issue is never truly addressed.
6. B) Physical hunger can be satisfied with a variety of foods, while emotional eating requires specific foods. If only potato chips or ice cream sound as if they will satisfy your hunger, then you are likely emotionally hungry!
7. False. While emotional eating is usually brought on by stress, it can also be triggered by a variety of emotions such as anger, boredom, loneliness, and even happiness.
8. C) Physical hunger is satisfied once you are full, while emotional eating is never satisfied. Physical hunger is banished once you have refueled your body, but eating doesn’t truly take care of emotional hunger.
9. D) All of the Above. All are examples of emotional hunger.
10. D) All of the Above. All are examples of physical hunger.
CREDIT
article by by ERIKA ALDRICH