Stress Eating in December: Why It Happens and How to Stop

You’re exhausted. The list is endless. There’s a party tomorrow, a work deadline, a shopping trip, and family drama on the horizon. Suddenly, the cookies disappear faster than you can blink.

Sound familiar? That’s stress eating, and it’s incredibly common in December.

Why Stress Eating Happens

• Cortisol spikes: Your body’s stress hormone makes you crave sugar, fat, and quick energy.

• Emotional self-soothing: Food can temporarily numb anxiety, loneliness, or overwhelm.

• Social cues: Holidays often come with endless snacking opportunities.

Strategies to Reduce Stress Eating

1. Pause Before Eating: Take a deep breath and notice what you’re feeling: hungry, anxious, bored?

2. Identify Triggers: Work, family, lack of sleep, or overwhelm? Knowing triggers helps you plan ahead.

3. Healthy Alternatives: Warm herbal tea, roasted nuts, or a short walk can redirect cravings.

4. Plan Indulgences: Enjoy the cookies you really love instead of mindlessly snacking on everything.

5. Gentle Self-Compassion: Beating yourself up only increases stress and cravings.

Your Mental Health

By acknowledging emotional triggers and responding with kindness, you retrain your brain to associate comfort with mindful choices, not guilt. This is holistic nutrition in practice where food supports both body and mind.

How Nourish & Align Can Help

Stress eating is common, but it doesn’t have to control your December.Through Nourish & Align, you’ll learn:

• How to identify emotional eating triggers and respond with self-compassion

• Mindful eating strategies that reduce guilt and anxiety

• Seasonal nutrition guidance that stabilizes mood and supports mental health

The program gives you holistic support for both mind and body so that you can enjoy food, navigate stress, and feel grounded...even in the busiest month of the year.

Join today → Nourish & Align Program