Eating for emotional comfort is very common, but you can learn to manage uncomfortable feelings in healthier ways. Stress, sadness, boredom, or other negative feelings can trigger emotional eating for many. But unless you’re physically hungry, food won’t make you feel better.

Keep an eye on your eating habits and jot them down — noting how you were feeling when you reached for food. You may start to notice a pattern. Once you pinpoint the reasons you tend to overeat, it’s easier to find healthy solutions. Here are some ideas for managing emotional eating:

• List 3 non-food ways to address each emotion that tends to trigger eating; keep this list handy
• Meet a friend for a walk to take your mind off eating and promote well-being
• Exercise when you feel stressed, upset, or out of sorts
• Tackle the source of your stress head on (talk to the person who’s causing you anxiety or rearrange your schedule if you’re overloaded)
• Learn new ways to relax and quiet your mind — like meditation, visualization, and relaxation breathing
• Keep healthy snacks (cut veggies, unbuttered popcorn, fruit) on hand for when you need something to munch on.