Craving Peace, Not Carbs
Breaking Free from Emotional Eating
For many of us, food has become more than fuel—it has become comfort, relief, and even an escape. When eating shifts from supplying nutrients to chasing a feel-good endorphin high, we find ourselves trapped in the cycle of emotional eating. This often leads to excessive carb consumption (clears throat sheepishly, been there done that), which not only harms our bodies and minds but also disrupts something even more valuable—our peace.
The Emotional Eating Cycle
Carbohydrates, particularly refined sugars and processed starches, provide a quick emotional lift, but they do not satisfy true hunger. Instead, they stimulate cravings for more, keeping us stuck in a loop of emotional eating and regret. Just like alcohol, sugar and starches are often consumed for their pleasure-inducing effects, not because they are essential nutrients.
Think about that for a moment.
If we are eating food for pleasure rather than nourishment, it’s like drinking alcohol to satisfy thirst. The real issue isn’t the food itself—it’s why we are eating.
Carbs Are Not the Problem—Our Relationship With Them Is
Carbohydrates aren’t all bad. But when food becomes our primary source of comfort, stress relief, or distraction, it turns into a crutch—something we rely on to manage emotions rather than to nourish our bodies. And let’s be honest, we rarely CRAVE steak, it’s almost always breads and sweets that send us spirally.
A person caught in emotional eating may find themselves snacking constantly—up to 15 times per day—with over 80% of their intake consisting of carbohydrates. But humans weren’t designed to graze all day for emotional relief. We were created to eat 1-2 satisfying, nutrient-dense meals per day that sustain us physically without relying on food to numb emotions.
The Root of Emotional Eating
Emotional eating often stems from unmet emotional needs or an inability to process difficult emotions. Certain feelings—stress, sadness, loneliness, boredom—ignite a desire to numb or escape. Instead of facing our emotions, we turn to our "drug" of choice—whether that’s food, alcohol, shopping, or another distraction. It can also come from the patterns we were taught growing up. Interestingly many feel that obesity or type 2 diabetes runs in the family when it may be that unhealthy eating patterns are what run in the family.
This is where curiosity becomes our greatest tool.
Before reaching for food, pause and ask yourself:
What am I feeling right now?
Why is boredom, stress, or sadness making me want to eat?
What belief do I have about this feeling that makes me think I need to numb it?
Often, food is just the most accessible and socially acceptable coping mechanism. But if we truly desire health—body, mind, and spirit—we must separate true hunger from emotional hunger and begin breaking free from this destructive pattern.
Craving Peace Over Craving Carbs
The deeper truth is this: We aren’t just craving food—we’re craving peace.
We want comfort without consequences. We want relief without regret. We want something to fill the emptiness. But true peace doesn’t come from another snack—it comes from learning to sit with our emotions rather than escape them. It comes from finding our “dopamine fixes” in something besides food.
When we start nourishing our bodies instead of numbing our feelings, we create space for a fuller, freer life—one where peace replaces cravings, and we finally feel whole.
Thoughts to Ponder
How often do I eat in response to emotions rather than true hunger?
What healthier ways can I cope with stress, boredom, or loneliness instead of turning to food?
What would my life look like if I craved peace more than I craved carbs?
Let’s stop chasing temporary relief and start pursuing lasting peace. 💛