Food is associated with comfort, security, and solace, making it so seductive when life becomes boring, stressful or lonely. We use food as a way to deal with unpleasant feelings or emotions. Food, just like drugs or alcohol, can dull emotional pain or temporarily fill psychological emptiness. Make a list of problem situations, foods, feelings. Once you see the pattern, you can work to diffuse the triggers.
Many people eat when they are really tired or thirsty.
Learn to distinguish between body signals of real hunger or nutritional need and emotional triggers to eat. With emotional triggers, you can distract yourself by taking a walk or doing something completely different. If you choose to confront the craving, tell yourself aloud to stop if you reach for the food. Keep in mind that even strong cravings pass in about twenty minutes. Choose one place in the house to eat.