Choosing Healthy Foods

It's the week of finals and suddenly there's so much to do and not enough time to do it. With projects, papers, studying, all-nighters, and early wake-ups, indulging in your favorite (and maybe not so good for you) foods seems like the perfect way to relieve some of that finals stress. When we turn to food to relive stress, it tends to be food that comforts us and makes us feel good, which a lot of times is a carton of ice cream, a slice of pizza, or your favorite piece (or bag) of candy. The truth is, finals may not only be a stressful time of the semester but a time where weight gain occurs in stressed out students. The combination of a large amount of sedentary time studying and test taking, little to no exercise, and stressful or late-night eating is a recipe for weight gain. Another truth is that we may not even recognize that we are in fact stress eating due to being completely preoccupied. So how do we avoid this stress eating before it takes place? Here are four tips to...

With assistance from Northeastern graduate student Kelli Harvilla Whether you are getting adjust to being at school or your new schedule you may be feeling a bit stressed. Many of us are guilty of it – emotional eating. We love our favorite comfort foods and make sure they are available when we are feeling “stressed out.” When we let our feelings affect our nutritional choices, we also affect any weight loss goals we are trying to reach. Food tends to serve as a distraction, allowing us to put aside our worries for the time being. Unfortunately, we often feel guilty after an episode of overeating to deal with stress. Tips to Control Stress Eating Learn to distinguish between true hunger and purely emotional hunger Know your triggers and recognize consistent negative eating patterns Try comfort in another form, such as walking, watching a movie or talking to a friend ...