I agree with keeping healthy foods in the house - you can take it one step further and set up multiple healthy snacks that your body needs: almonds, cut up fruits, ready to eat fruits (peel oranges, wash berries and grapes) raw veggie trays (with lite dressing if you need it - otherwise use plain yogurt for dipping), snack bars like FiberOne, lowfat yogurts, wheat bread and fruit spread for toast, raisins, etc. It's actually very healthy to have many small meals a day to keep your metabolism running efficiently, so keep the good snacks ready to go and don't prepare big meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner - you'll feel tired and stuffed.

i also av the same issue,whenever am stressed up i snack a lot n eats lots of junks.But lately have resolved to stop it by just going into a quiet place n thinking of my son.

Open mouth, insert food. I have a tendency to eat sweets when I'm stressed. I think because I associate sweet treats with reward, but I know I'm not doing my body any good.

I agree with lindad that it helps not to have bad stuff in the house and if I can fill up on water I can sometimes get past a craving.

It's not easy!

I am also an emotional eater (mostly when something bad happens) and I have found a few things that work for me. First, I generally don't keep any junk food in my house. If it's not there, I don't eat it, and I'm too lazy to run out to get it. I will also drink some water (or chew some gum) - that will usually decrease any cravings. If I am having a really bad day, I will call my mom or one of my friends to vent. By the time I get off the phone, I usually feel a lot better and don't need that snack to get me through.

This is something so many of us struggle with, I think. It's because food is so intrinsically linked with both celebration (holidays, weddings, births) an sorrow (funerals, breakups, etc.) We often offer food to one another as gift or consolation.

Breaking the pattern is easier said than done. Knowing the triggers can help, as can only keeping healthy snacks on hand. Something that works for me is that I put a note both on my fridge and in my wallet that says "Why are you here?" It's a subtle reminder to think about why I'm about to eat what I am. Most of the time I remember that I'm not hungry at all, I'm just filling up whatever void is there. So I call a friend or write or brush my teeth...anything to distract.