I sat down behind my desk after what felt like the longest 80 minutes of my life as my class filed out. Exhausted and  confused, I began questioning my career choice...again. 

This is not uncommon amongst teachers. In talking with my colleagues over the years, everyone I know has wondered why they stick with a job when they often feel beaten down, underpaid and underappreciated. 

And then it hit me. A craving I hadn’t felt in a really long time.

Cheez-its. Barbeque chips. All kinds of starchy, salty, junky foods came to mind and I began salivating. I thought about where I might find this kind of food and if there might be a bag or box hiding out in my classroom. Cabinet? Nope. Desk drawer? Nope. Do I have money for the vending machine? Nope.

Uuuugh! I was forced to sit there with my feelings of stress and discomfort. Added to that was disappointment that I no longer had those kinds of snacks anywhere near me. 

What the heck just happened here? What am I doing wrong with this class? I wanted to cry - and I did, a little.  

The class I speak of took place every other day after lunch. It was the last true class of the day other than a home room/study hall. Much of what we did during our time together was done on computers, and most of the students I had were 14 and 15 year old boys. Teaching at that time of day plus the general nature of boys of their age makes for quite the challenge. Throw in some special accomodations and behavior plans and, well, let’s just say it wasn’t exactly an ideal teaching environment. 

As I thought about how the class went and dealt with the lack of delicious, comforting snacks in my classroom that day, I couldn’t help but think about WHY this craving came on so strongly. 

My family and I have been eating mostly whole foods for at least two years. We avoid processed and junky foods like chips and crackers most of the time because they tend to make us feel awful after we eat them. 

This doesn’t mean we never eat anything considered unhealthy. We follow the 80-20 rule where most of our meals and snacks consist of whole, healthy foods but we allow for life to happen and indulge in less-than-healthy treats every now and then.

So, what triggered this particular craving that I hadn’t experienced in a long time? Sure, stress was to blame, but we often blame stress for things that go much deeper. 

I continued to sit, now munching on the apple I settled for as my next set of students filed in. That’s when it hit me: that class makes me feel like I suck at teaching.  It makes me feel inadequate. Well, that definitely explained the tears. And the cravings. 

The thing is I wasn’t a bad teacher. I think I actually turned out to be pretty darn good at it after 13 years.  

That class though, no matter how many strategies I tried, how many things I changed, how hard I worked to make it better, it never seemed to run as smoothly as the others. It was always a little more chaotic than I wanted it to be. And that made me feel like a failure. Like what I was doing was never enough. 

Which is exactly why I wanted to binge on junk food. Because I was feeling inadequate, a feeling I’ve felt over and over in my life, not only in my role as a teacher but also as a mother, daughter, sister and friend.  I know we’ve all felt that way from time to time, and many of us have turned to food for comfort.

Now that I’ve had some time to reflect on that particular classroom experience and reminded myself that just because that class wasn’t perfect doesn’t mean I was a failure, I’ve compiled a short list of ways to avoid eating junk food when your emotions lead to cravings coming on strong.

It’s hard to binge on junk food if it’s not there.

If you’re prone to bingeing when you’re feeling stressed, avoid buying junky foods that you tend to overeat (potato chips or ice cream, anyone?). Those foods don’t actually fill the void and typically end up making you feel worse. 

Had chips or cookies been located anywhere near, I would have eaten them. All of them. When we’re in the moment and want to avoid feeling pain or discomfort, will power goes out the window. So set yourself up for success by packing healthy snacking options.

Don’t be afraid to experience your feelings.

While food is a great distraction from our feelings, it doesn’t actually make us feel any better. In fact, stuffing ourselves with foods that satisfy our emotionally-driven cravings often makes us feel guilt on top of the emotions we are already avoiding. 

When feelings of stress, sadness or failure come on, let yourself react. It’s okay to cry, scream and then cry some more if necessary. If you can, talk with a family member or friend about your feelings. Getting them out in the open helps take their power away and keeps them from festering. 

Practice mindfulness

It may seem corny, but setting aside 5 or 10 minutes a day to follow a guided meditation can be super helpful in training your mind to notice these feelings that arise, acknowledging them and then letting them pass without shoving fistfulls of Cheez-its down your gullet. There are all kinds of free apps that will get you started on the path to becoming mindful when it comes to food and feelings. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. 

If you’re ready to work through your emotional eating habits and want some support and guidance along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help you take the steps you need to Identify your triggers and put strategies in place to ensure your aren’t shoving your emotions down and then topping them off with a gallon of ice cream.