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    Stress Eating

    NL
    Nicole LannertonePublished March 11, 2016 · Updated October 21, 2026 · 1 min read

    Printable Worksheet

    Stress Eating

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    A mindful companion to this worksheet

    Settling the body and mind with mindfulness

    When the body is braced against the world, the mind narrows. “Stress Eating” is a way into noticing what overwhelms you, what restores you, and how to meet difficulty without abandoning yourself.

    How mindfulness can help

    Mindfulness can help the body settle through the simple, repeated act of returning attention to the present moment. Sensing the breath, the feet on the floor, or the sounds around you gives the body a chance to register that, right here and right now, it is safe enough to soften.

    Gentle steps to try

    1. Lengthen the exhale. You might breathe in for four counts and out for six, for about a minute. A longer exhale is widely taught as a way to settle the nervous system.
    2. Feel the ground. Press your feet into the floor and feel the support that has been there all along.
    3. Name three things. Three things you can see, three you can hear, three you can feel. Let the senses lead you out of the loop of thought.
    4. Choose one small kindness. A glass of water, a slow walk, a kind text to a friend. Small acts of care add up.

    Steadiness is not built by pushing through. It is built by returning, gently and again, to what restores you. The breath is always there.

    Stress eating is eating in response to stress or anxiety rather than physical hunger. This worksheet explains how that pattern can work and includes a stress-eating journal, so you can notice when stress prompts you to eat, what you reach for, and whether a mindfulness practice might offer another response.

    Mindful breathing and body awareness can help you pause and check whether you are physically hungry or feeling emotional hunger. Mindful eating, which means eating slowly and savoring each bite, is one approach some people find helpful when a craving is strong.

    This worksheet complements, and does not replace, care from a doctor, dietitian or mental health professional. If eating feels out of control, or you are concerned about your health or weight, please reach out to one.

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