Better Food Relationships (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
+ Better Relationship with Food
= Healthy Food Choices

Is it a constant struggle deciding what to eat? Even if you have adopted a healthier lifestyle, during times of stress you may turn to junk food. This love-hate relationship with food can sabotage even the best efforts of maintaining a nutritious diet.

At ACE Nutrition, we speak from our experience, that establishing a connection between the mind and the plate is a difficult task. However, achieving that connection has long-term health benefits. To help organizations achieve their health goals, we apply the well-known cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach.

Studies of Eating Habits and the Impact on Organizations

1. The Brigham Young University study ↗ conducted research on 20,000 employees. It found a strong link between unhealthy eating habits and workplace productivity. The study determined that employees with poor diets were 66% more likely to underperform. This data highlights the potential impact on a company's bottom line.
2. The cost of ignoring mental health is real. As per a Canadian government report ↗, psychological health problems significantly impact mid-career workers, a demographic crucial for business success. This translates to decreased productivity and potential financial losses.
3. Investing in wellness programs can yield significant cost savings. Studies show ↗ a reduction of 1.5 to 1.7 days of absenteeism per employee annually, translating to roughly $251 in savings per employee.

These are not the only data points that suggest a functional corporate wellness program can significantly benefit your organization. To address your specific needs, we invite you to connect with our team of wellness specialists.

How Does CBT Encourage Healthy Choices?

CBT finds that a human’s thoughts, feelings, and actions are interlinked. It works by helping people identify negative thought patterns and behaviors that are contributing to their problems – and changes them. Our thoughts can influence how we feel. This, in turn, affects our actions.

When it comes to food, stressful thoughts can lead to emotional eating. We want to challenge this status quo, develop healthy strategies, and introduce concepts to reinforce mindful food choices.

Improving Your Relationship With Food

Among many factors that influence our eating habits, stress plays a big role. Stress is a major trigger for emotional eating. Here are five key tips from ACE Nutrition to get you started:

1. Follow the 80/20 Rule

   Focus on eating healthy 80% - 90% of the time. This doesn't mean depriving yourself of the occasional treat! An all-or-nothing mentality can set you up for failure. The 80/20 rule allows for flexibility and enjoyment, making healthy eating a sustainable lifestyle.

2. Improve Your Self-Talk

   The way you talk to yourself matters. If you don't practice positive self-talk, your inner voice can become your worst enemy. Negative self-talk can sabotage your best efforts.

   Here's how to silence the negativity:

   Recognize when negative self-talk is happening.

   • HALT that voice in its tracks.
   • Replace the negative thought with a short, positive response. Repeat this positive “mantra” whenever negativity creeps in.

3. Mindful Eating Practices

   Focus on the present moment. Encourage mindful eating by prompting yourself to pay attention to the taste, texture, and aroma of your food. This slows us down, helps us savor meals, and recognize satiety cues. Practice a brief moment of gratitude before eating, and avoid distractions while eating i.e., phones, tv. This allows for better focus on internal hunger cues and prevents mindless overeating.

4. Identify Emotional Triggers

   Keep a food journal to track your emotions and eating patterns. This can help identify specific situations or emotions that trigger emotional eating. Our recently published blog Optimizing Your Emotional Health provides additional tips on managing stress. Consult a professional for healthy ways to cope with stress and difficult emotions, such as exercise, and relaxation techniques.

   Ready to Take Control of Your Cravings? Our course, "Crush Your Food Cravings", provides a step-by-step approach to develop a healthy, sustainable relationship with food.

5. Build a Supportive Workplace Environment

   Encourage open communication about mental health and struggles with emotional eating in the workplace. This can create a supportive environment where employees feel comfortable seeking help. Remember to keep a positive, empowering tone. Focus on the benefits of healthy eating habits, and self-care, rather than solely highlighting the negative consequences of emotional eating. Your workplace will be revitalized. Employees will be more encouraged to make healthy choices, and feel their best!