Emotional Eating: Why We Do It and How to Stop
Tricia Nelson
Emotional Eating Expert
Author, TEDx Speaker, Podcast Host
listen or watch on:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
Have you ever found yourself standing in front of the pantry after a stressful day, not even hungry but looking for…something? Something to give you a little boost, a little comfort, or to take the edge off? That’s what we call emotional eating.
This week on the podcast, I’m joined by Tricia Nelson, emotional eating expert, founder of Heal Your Hunger, and author of Heal Your Hunger: 7 Simple Steps to End Emotional Eating Now. After losing 50 pounds and finally breaking free from her own cycles of bingeing and dieting, Tricia has spent decades helping women uncover the real roots of emotional eating—and you know what? It’s not about food.
In this conversation, we dig into:
• What emotional eating actually is.
• Why midlife women are so susceptible. Hormonal chaos, stress, people-pleasing, and caregiving all create the perfect storm for cravings.
• The PEP test. Tricia explains how food becomes our painkiller, our escape, and even our punishment.
• Why dieting doesn’t work long term. Food isn’t the problem, it’s the symptom—and unless we address the root, we stay stuck.
• Practical tools you can use tonight. From self-care habits to community support, Tricia shares doable ways to calm cravings and care for yourself without food.
If you’ve ever wondered, “Why can’t I stop eating when I’m not even hungry?”—this episode is for you.
⭐️ And if you found this conversation helpful, I’d love it if you’d leave a quick rating and review wherever you listen—it helps other smart and sassy midlife women find the show.
Chapters:
02:28 What is Emotional Eating?
04:30 Why Do We Turn to Sugar and Carbs?
05:52 Tricia's PEP Test for Understanding Why We Emotionally Eat
09:49 Are Some of Us Predisposed to Emotional Eating?
15:47 Breaking the Cycle of Emotional Eating
19:56 The 3 Things That Drive Emotional Eating
24:21 How To Care For Yourself When You're Emotionally Eating
28:05 Emotional Eating in Midlife
34:59 Tricia's Coaching Program
40:07 Key Takeaways
About Tricia Nelson:
Tricia Nelson lost fifty pounds by identifying and healing the underlying causes of her emotional eating. Tricia is an Emotional Eating Expert and TEDx speaker, whose talk has garnered over 2 million views on YouTube. She's the author of the #1 bestselling book, Heal Your Hunger, 7 Simple Steps to End Emotional Eating Now. Tricia is the host of the popular podcast, The Heal Your Hunger Show and has spent over thirty years researching the hidden causes of the addictive personality. Tricia has been featured on NBC, CBS, KTLA, FOX and Discovery Health.
Connect with Tricia:
➡️ Take Tricia’s Emotional Eating Quiz
🎧 Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:
Your Body Isn’t the Problem—A Midlife Health Reframe with Courtney Townley from Grace & Grit
Keeping Your Cool When Everyone (and Everything) is Triggering You w/Jenna Hermans
Like what you hear?
➕ Follow Belong Wellness on Apple podcasts, Spotify or YouTube for more super smart and slightly sassy midlife conversations that blend science, intuition, and zero BS.
⭐️ Please share this episode with a friend, drop a 5-star rating and leave a review! I promise I will do a happy dance if you do.
Disclaimer:
Belong Wellness and its members, managers, employees, contractors, and other agents or representatives are not licensed medical care providers and do not provide medical services or advice, including without limitation diagnosing, examining, preventing, treating, or curing any medical conditions. The information shared in this podcast is meant to be educational, not prescriptive. Please consult your medical doctor before making any changes to your diet or lifestyle. Further, the opinions of guests on this show do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Jessica or anyone affiliated with Belong Wellness.
