17/08/2025
🍫Emotional Eating & Ultra-Processed Foods – Let's Be Honest
We've all been there… That moment when the day feels too much, the to-do list is endless, and suddenly the biscuit tin (or the crisps, or the chocolate) is calling your name louder than anything else.
Ultra-processed foods are designed to be irresistible. They're engineered by food scientists to hit our bliss point – that perfect combination of salt, sugar, and fat that keeps us coming back.
They're cheap, convenient, and deliver that instant hit of comfort we're craving. But they also tend to be low in the nutrients our bodies actually need and can send our energy levels on a rollercoaster ride.
The honest bit? It's rarely just about the food itself.
Emotional eating often has much deeper roots – stress from work, boredom on a quiet Sunday, loneliness after a difficult conversation, ingrained habits from childhood, or a celebration after a win.
Ultra-processed foods simply become the tool we instinctively reach for when we want to soothe, reward, numb, or distract ourselves from whatever we're feeling.
And that's completely human and understandable.
This September, over on Nourish Elevate, we'll be diving much deeper into the world of emotional eating – really unpacking those triggers, exploring gentle but practical strategies, and creating kinder, more compassionate ways to respond to those urgent "I need something RIGHT NOW!" moments we all know so well.
But for now, I'd love to start a conversation here:
💭 Which ultra-processed foods do you find the hardest to say no to?
💭 What's usually happening (emotionally or in your day) when you find yourself craving them most?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below – no judgment here, just honest reflection and maybe some shared "me too!" moments. Sometimes just naming these patterns is the first step toward understanding them better.
