How to Tackle Comfort Foods... Family Traditions

 I like to eat. My favorite is pancakes. 

What's yours?

Let me ask you a question.

If there were no boundaries and you had only one food choice, what would you want to eat? 

I like pancakes. 😀 I like their sweet taste. They look like sunshine, smell like comfort, feel like mom is in the kitchen. Family. Memories. Love. Comfort. Safety.  

Now your turn. What's your favorite food and why?

Up to recently when I really started to examine what I eat and why my sweet tooth enjoyed (and still does) pancakes. And when I eat them, I feel immediately good. 

What food do you tend to lean towards when you want comfort? Why? How do you feel at that moment? What is it that you are actually really craving?

I know those are a lot of deep questions.

So let's break it down into a simple structure. When we do, you may find a simple (not easy) way to tackle your comfort cravings. 

The big Ah-ha for me with comfort foods was learning my connection with them and how and why I relate to them. In the case of pancakes, It was pretty simple.  Pancakes = comfort. 

Can you see yours?

Now, let's dig deeper: family traditions.  

For me, I remember every Sunday morning was pancakes. I felt happy, safe, and comfy. Therefore, my brain created this tight bond of memory that pancakes equal comfort; or simply something that reminds me of that feeling of comfort. 

Up to now my body/mind has been finding creative ways to support that behavior. 

This pattern goes beyond pancakes to whatever (edible or not edible) that triggers that comfort feeling. That's the reward my brain craves.

I may not actually like the way I feel after that initial emotion of comfort. I may want to break away from those foods or other habits,  but I literally cannot. Why? Because my body is physically attached to this behavior it has been doing for decades and quite successfully.  

Do you have your example?

 Next, let's talk about breaking/upgrading comfort foods habits. 

It might be helpful to look from the angle of not yet breaking a habit but upgrading the habit by finding new comfort foods/behaviors (edible and nonedible).

Allow me to teach you the tool that made the most profound difference for me.

Take a notepad and write down answers. 

Step 1. What food do I crave?

Step 2. What is my stress level at that moment? Or what are you experiencing at that moment? What time of the day is it?

Step 3. What do you really want and need that you crave?

So you say, 

(Step 1)  I crave …(Step 2) when ... (Step 3) because….

For example, I crave chocolate when I am done with work (4pm) because I want to relax.

What is your example? Can you reply to this email and share it with me?

Practice this every time you feel a craving. Be curious. Notice that when you are curious there is no judgment.

Now, that we have your curiosity goggles on, we can bring the "What If…" tool into play.

It's not about change; it's about choice.

Choice is about the menu of options. 

What if I can make pancakes with whole wheat flour or with almond flour or from zucchini and carrots? What if I actually like the flavor and my kids like it too?

Now I have an opportunity to do something different without feeling different.

Think about it! Just feel how liberating it is! 

What menu of options might you create? 

Would you be willing to try them on?

To summarize,

when we want to tackle comfort food cravings, it's essential to follow these steps:

1. What am I craving? 

2. What is my family tradition around it?

3.  Why am I still craving it

4. Practice the following: (Step 1)  I crave …(Step 2) when ... (Step 3) because….

5. Create a menu of options and then practice some new options

Let me know how this message resonates with you.

Ready for more?

For DIY, grab a registration for "Find Your New Comfort Foods" Member Training or grab "My Power Journal" for 3-months of transformation.

Thriving in a group? Commit to the upcoming Group Coaching program starting in July! Sign up in March and receive 50% off.

Private kinda person? Check out my Accountability Coaching.

Love yourself, your body, and your life through your daily food choices!

Remember, you have the Power!

Nadya