Find a Non-Food Bandage

Would you ever use a cookie to bandage a cut or scrape? Of course not – the idea of trying to heal a physical wound with food is silly! Now ask yourself: Have you ever used food to try to heal an emotional cut or scrape?

The answer is probably yes. Many people try to "heal" an uncomfortable situation or emotion (e.g., stress, sadness, anxiety, boredom) with food. But just like slapping a cookie on a scrape isn't going to heal the wound, eating that cookie isn't going to "heal" boredom, sadness or stress. True, a cookie may initially fill a void, but in the long run, eating a cookie to make yourself happy is just as silly an idea as using chocolate chips as bandages!

Get positive

You may be familiar with Reframing, a powerful resource from Weight Watchers Tools for Living, which can help you to find non-food means of healing emotional wounds. Behind every behavior – even negative ones – there is a positive intention. When you use food as a bandage for an emotional wound, you're seeking out a positive feeling. That feeling might be comfort, relaxation, happiness or entertainment. But whatever it is, you're eating in the hopes of achieving a positive state of mind.

This is where Reframing comes in. Think about the negative feelings that have caused you to use food as a bandage in the past. What positive feelings were you hoping to achieve by eating? Now try to imagine reframing these positive emotions with positive activities, rather than framing them with food.

For example, what could make you feel less stressed, happier, more relaxed? Maybe you could frame these emotions with a call to a friend, a long walk, a good book or a hot bath. How many non-calorie activities can you come up with to help you heal an uncomfortable emotion? Be creative! After all, a cookie lasts as long as it takes to chew it, but a healthy lifestyle lasts a lifetime!