Why Stress Eating Occurs in a Crisis and a Pandemic

At a Whole Foods, the snack aisle was the first to empty out. Why stress eating occurs in a crisis.

By: Jeanne Muchnick

Charin Freundlich can't remember the last time she ate Lay's Sour Cream & Onion potato chips. But with her adult kids home from the city and the coronavirus in full swing, the Rye Brook resident said she's eating them like candy.

Along with actual candy.

She said her family of four has consumed at least nine of those movie-theater size boxes of Skittles, Milk Duds, Swedish Fish and Sour Patch Kids thanks to a recent Stop & Shop promotion of three for $3.

"It’s like a sugar demon has possessed us," Freundlich said. "I haven't eaten this stuff since my kids were in elementary school." They're now ages 28 and 31. 

Ismeida Vasquez Santos of Nanuet is in the same boat. Potato chips and/or Doritos were something she allowed herself maybe once a week, but lately, she's been having a couple of fistfuls daily, along with Oreos. She's also back on carbs. "I had been cutting down on bread in the house prior to the pandemic," she told lohud. "But now we're stocked up."

In fact, according to Pleasantville resident Erica Gen, who works at the Chappaqua Whole Foods Market, snack food was the first to sell out completely, with the chip and popcorn aisle empty, although Gen noted it's being replenished.

Welcome to the world of stress eating.

With the coronavirus hitting New York hard and people cooped up inside for two weeks and counting, more and more folks are reaching for snacks they previously had avoided.

Whether it's doughnuts — Pomona native Lyndsay Brianne's item of choice — ice cream (Delene Bradia of Valley Cottage), black licorice (Mary Rodgers of Katonah's guilty pleasure), cereal (Colleen Kelly of West Haverstraw) or chocolate chip cookies (me!), eating items beyond what you normally consume is extremely normal.

So says Minerva Guerrero, owner of Scarsdale-based Mind Matters Mental Health Counseling, PLLC, a mental health clinic that specializes in anxiety and trauma.

"Most people are home a lot more than the usual and are in close proximity to their fridge or pantry, which means they're reaching for food and snacks more than usual," she explained. "This could be out of boredom or simply because food is comforting.

"People are also anxious and stressed right now, and with all the uncertainties about the near future, we want at least something that offers immediate gratification."

Guerrero's advice for those now baking or buying outside their normal habits is to find another activity that fulfills you. That might mean yoga, going for a walk, playing a game with your kids, or reading a book. 

Meditating is high on her list as it helps folks be present and aware of the current moment. One practice she suggests is to stop and ask yourself why you're reaching for the bag of chips. Ask yourself: Are you truly hungry? And, do you really want to eat X, Y or Z?

"If the answer is yes, then eat the chips!" Guerrero says.

"The idea behind mindful eating is not to feel guilty about what you’re eating but to really notice what foods you're eating and eating only until satisfied. This conscious eating practice will help you significantly reduce stress eating and reduce any guilt feelings after."

You can also, Guerrero suggests, opt for healthier foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

"During times of stress, it’s important to eat foods that boost your immune system because as we know chronic stress can be damaging to the body," she said. 

For Mary Rodgers of Katonah, whose stress eating habit has been black licorice and popcorn, her goal is just trying to maintain and not gain, though she admits it's been a losing battle.

"I miss yoga but my instructor has set up Zoom classes which I will be attending when I can," she said. "I also try to get out and walk as much as possible."

Beth Bate DuBoff of Stony Point is also trying to stay on track by logging into Weight Watchers Zoom meetings.

Susan Zeitman Smith of North Rockland has another tactic, a saying she saw circulated on social media: Every few days put your jeans on to make sure they still fit, she wrote in a Facebook message: "Pajamas and sweats will make you feel all is still okay."

Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food. 

This article appeared in the Journal News and https://www.lohud.com/story/life/food/restaurants/2020/03/31/coronavirus-turbulent-times-stress-eating/2925105001/ on March 31, 2020.