My first post-election interaction was with a woman at Trader Joe’s. She responded to my friendly “How are you?” by stating that she was feeling a bit down after eating “too much ice cream.” This woman had no idea that I am a licensed psychologist specializing in disordered eating. And while I spend much of my day helping clients get more connected to their feelings and working on improving their relationships with food, my response to her was just a kind acknowledgment that coping is important. I would have loved to offer this stranger even more than the pleasant exchange. I would want her to develop kinder self-talk so she doesn’t judge what she eats; I would want to share that coping with food isn’t bad; I would want to explain how diet culture influences our relationship with food.

Since impromptu therapy sessions at the grocery store are frowned upon, as we gear up for the holidays, I am elaborating on ways to improve insight around what we eat and why. Feeling “a bit down” about food choices around the holiday season is such a common experience. But there is an opportunity to slow down and understand more about what we eat and why.

The reality is most people regularly use food to cope with at least some of their emotions. This might look like being........

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