Emotional Eating: Strange Cravings when you're ANGRY!
OK, so this past week has been really rough at work and maybe I'm the only person in the world but...I think my boss is an idiot sometimes. So when I get home from work and I need to calm down, I crave Breyers vanilla ice cream and mix in cinnamon and Rice Krispie treats. I know, I shouldn't eat to calm me down. But, does anyone else eat have strange cravings when they're angry or emotional?
Please tell me I'm not alone! lol
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67 Comments:
vodka - and potato chips.
pooch at 9:21AM on 05/29/09
Beer.
annabanannas at 9:25AM on 05/29/09
CAKE! eaten with your hands
kristin314 at 9:30AM on 05/29/09
Wine. I can't eat when I'm angry.
annatr at 9:37AM on 05/29/09
I've said it countless times, I'm an emotional walker:-). I need to take a walk when I'm upset, stressed, angry or otherwise unhappy, and I absolutely cannot eat in such a case. Which is why I could never eat before exams, at family weddings or funerals, or after a bad day at work (to name a few:-)). Sorry!
But like @annatr, I definitely may have a glass of wine.
brooke29 at 9:41AM on 05/29/09
Emotional drinker - YES. Not an emotional eater.
arm1970 at 9:54AM on 05/29/09
@annatr - Ditto!
caramel at 10:01AM on 05/29/09
Herb infused brownies !
onepercent99 at 10:18AM on 05/29/09
that ice cream sounds delicious! i may try it when im happy lol
hungrygrl7 at 10:27AM on 05/29/09
Good heavens...your cinnamony vanilla rice krispy concoction sounds scrumptious and totally satisfying. Definitely worth getting ANGRY just so that one could pacify and soothe with a deep bowl of that deliciousness. I may have to visit the DMV today just to get all riled up!!
juliebugsmama at 10:37AM on 05/29/09
@onpercent99 - hehehe, I caught that :)
LetThemEatQueso at 10:55AM on 05/29/09
Yeah, anger makes me lose my appetite. I need to calm down before I can eat. Even drinking is difficult when the gears of war are spinning in my head, but it can be done. It sometimes actually helps with the calming.
simon at 10:58AM on 05/29/09
Scotch. Single malt. Neat.
Amandarama at 11:17AM on 05/29/09
I expected angry folks to want crunchy stuff like really big, hard pretzels sticks; RAWR types of food.
I don't really lose my appetite, but I don't have any cravings either. If I'm extremely angry, I'm better off alone in a dark room anyway.
Cassaendra at 11:41AM on 05/29/09
lol wow, I didn't expect so many boozers lol. @cassaendra, the rice krispy treats get really crunchy in the cold ice cream, it's so good!
philadooklyn at 11:54AM on 05/29/09
Lettuce leaves spread with spicy mustard. Only iceberg lettuce, though, because it has the best crunch. I have been known to eat an entire head of lettuce that way.
Traveller at 11:57AM on 05/29/09
when I'm angry I usually want to bake bread or cook something elaborate but I dont want to eat.
huneybumper at 12:07PM on 05/29/09
I always want something I know is bad for me. The attitude of, "well, I guess I'm justified to eat my feelings, might as well do it right."
Lizy Yagoda at 12:10PM on 05/29/09
I don't get angry. hahaha
for reals: wine and smokes first then I love going out and spending my money on an awesome dinner - oysters & white wine rule!
infact, i just made plans for wine & oysters at rodneys after work - awesome - I'm not angry though.
mrstkach at 12:15PM on 05/29/09
Ice cream. And the thing is I don't normally like the stuff, but when I'm angry? Only Haagen-Dazs rum raisin will do. I buy the pint, I eat the pint in one sitting. I often feel better.
chisai at 12:36PM on 05/29/09
Home-made mac and cheese
kmgagne at 12:46PM on 05/29/09
Oh and mixed nuts
kmgagne at 12:46PM on 05/29/09
Usually I don't eat when I am angry either - depressed, sure. But I guess I have on occassion and it seems it was ice cream. Although once after a trying/heated day I nearly ingested an entire watermelon. Nope, wasn't pretty.
radley24 at 12:48PM on 05/29/09
Bread and bready things
JerzeeTomato at 12:51PM on 05/29/09
Wine and crackers.
dhorst at 1:14PM on 05/29/09
ditto with the wine. and if i'm having a really bad day a nice dinner at a restaurant would help.... :)
megannesta at 1:51PM on 05/29/09
Ice cream of any sort. But I think ice cream is a perfect food for happy occasions as well.
I've never thought to sprinkle cinnamon in vanilla ice cream though, I'll have to try it!
gingercookiewithlime at 2:02PM on 05/29/09
@ annatr and caramel - ditto'd too!
hungrychristel at 2:27PM on 05/29/09
I always feel better if I scrub down my kitchen when I'm angry. Enough anger-fueled cleaning, and my kitchen really shines!
buffy at 2:58PM on 05/29/09
When my mother hurt herself and wound up in a rehab center in the Ft. Laud area, it was largely up to me to be there as I lived in Clearwater at the time. She was NOT the best patient in the world, frequently launching into me with barbs about how I was doing one thing or another wrong.
After one particularly venomous barrage, I got in my car, drove to Lester's Diner, and ordered a cheeseburger deluxe. I ate the whole thing in about 7 bites. The waitress passed me, gave me a surprised look and said, "It was either really good or you were really hungry." Not intending to share my maternal frustration with her, I merely said, "Both."
The truth is that when I left the rehab facility headed for the diner, I KNEW I would order something that ended in the word "deluxe."
therealchiffonade at 3:07PM on 05/29/09
I don't usually eat when I'm angry. Or anxious. But sad, bored, depressed? Bring on the big bowls of pasta, and keep 'em coming.
Kerosena at 3:15PM on 05/29/09
Dark chocolate. And cigarettes. I'm the devil.
mollykate678 at 3:41PM on 05/29/09
vodka, cigarettes and nacho cheese Doritos.
chardonnay at 4:00PM on 05/29/09
chocolate. not that i crave it... i just hope it will do its thing and send up some seratonin.
blizcheetah at 5:49PM on 05/29/09
Energy bars. Any kind...Powerbar, Clif, Luna, whatever. And the angrier I am, the faster I'll eat too, so I go through a lot of money's worth of energy bars and make my body into a chemistry experiment when I'm really mad.
cycorider at 6:00PM on 05/29/09
I am with the wine and booze folks. Not a big eater when I am mad, give me a calming drink instead.
sadiepix at 6:13PM on 05/29/09
@chiff--I know what you mean, leaving the house and knowing you need the deluxe!
Usually when I'm angry, I tend to say things that I regret rather than put things in my mouth. But like most of you, if I do eat something it's usually sweet--not in the immediate moment, but if I am angry for a week, I tend to eat less healthfully, more dark chocolate, carbs, and such.
HeartofGlass at 7:24PM on 05/29/09
angry... i go for salt.. kettle potato chips normally.....
depression.... i go for chocolate or ice cream.
Alm25 at 7:26PM on 05/29/09
I don't eat when Im angry, Ill drink or go crack some skulls, my appetite just disappears with anger, and the drink has to be citron vodka on the rocks, or a strong vodka with a splash of club soda, or sometimes a smoke which is odd because I'm not a smoker!
twoojoe at 8:20PM on 05/29/09
if i'm seriously upset, give me a cigarette. actually, give me the whole pack.
cybercita at 9:28PM on 05/29/09
I'm a boredom eater. I'm an angry thrower. I throw things when I'm angry. I do, however, have a cat who's an anger puker.
beth1 at 12:45AM on 05/30/09
Wine for a while. . .then eventually followed by food that's been prepared and delivered by someone else. I don't trust myself with knives when I'm angry. :)
nowsonexitmusic at 1:56AM on 05/30/09
I can't even think about food when I am angry. I'll go without eating until near the point of collapse or the anger has passed. Anger is bad for you.
Be chary of angering felines. They always get their revenge. I had one, now long deceased, who would defecate in my bathtub when offended. I sure miss her.
Grumpy Old Man at 3:07AM on 05/30/09
When generally emotional I like to make a spicy soup/stew...anything from chili to hot and sour soup...the smells while simmering seem to lift my mood and the food itself is comforting.
When angry I'm more of a 3 mile jog then protein/fruit smoothie...then a bottle of wine...then some scotch till i'm over it person...and at that point i'm probably starving again and have the drunken munchies so i'll eat whatever is in the cabinet...it always starts with such good intentions.
brickh at 5:15PM on 05/30/09
@GrumpyOldMan and @beth: Speaking of angering felines, I have a really funny story about that.
A good friend of mine caught his cat gnawing on a pot roast he had out thawing and summarily tossed her outside through the open kitchen window. Later that night when he was going to bed, he noticed the covers had been disturbed slightly, and pulled back the comforter to see what was going on. He found a pile of cat poop on his (not his girlfriend's) pillow, and not only that--the covers had been replaced afterwards. It's like Kitty was hoping he wouldn't look and would simply lay his head down in it. Cats can be such bitches! Maybe that's why I love them so much....
buffy at 7:58PM on 05/30/09
Vodka or Tequila. Or, something stronger.
Food and anger don't mix where I'm concerned. I am a passionate woman, so when I seethe, it is ferociously intense. As in stand back, cause you can literally see the steam coming off of me.
Don't tell my husband, but pretty much the only time I ever REALLY clean house is when I'm pissed off. Then, I'm like a steam roller and there's no stopping me. It's a great way to channel my pent up aggression, assuming I am not targeting my energy on the source of my anger, where it righteously belongs.
Your craving combo makes sense though, because all of the elements are soothing and comforting: milk, vanilla, cinnamon, rice gluten - all soothing to the nerves. When I am emotionally upset (as in sad) I sometimes crave ice cream, too, because it is so very comforting.
Well, it is until I look down and realize I just polished off an entire pint of Haagen Dazs!!
Anyways, I hope your boss is able to elevate his IQ level, soon!
Cheers,
~ Paula
Paula Maack at 12:23AM on 05/31/09
Thanks Paula,
I hope the boss will wise up soon! lol
philadooklyn at 7:45PM on 05/31/09
@alm25 .. you and I are kindred spirits.. It's Salty or Sugar .. and kettle chips and chocolate go together perfectly well, cover all the bases at one time.
Drinking just makes me feel worse. But food can definately make me feel better. 8-)
TeriN at 2:06PM on 06/02/09
If I'm really angry I can't eat... which is very rare. If you look at me, you can see I'm rather happy, because I love to eat. (haha)
Emotional eating, stress eating (and drinking) are both different stories...
Karee at 5:36PM on 06/02/09
I, too, cannot eat when I'm angry. I'd probably turn to beer to "help" with the emotions.
smiths37 at 3:41PM on 06/03/09
Anger brings on a thirst for wine. Wine brings on a hunger for pasta or bread or pasta and bread. Morning (or day after) brings on regret for all things above.
smallkitchen at 3:48PM on 06/03/09
Anger and Food don't exist for me.
paris221966 at 11:17PM on 06/03/09
Booze (generally vodka) = all-purpose usage. For anger, depression, stress, joy or boredom.
JubileeNYC at 11:20PM on 06/03/09
If I am really wound up from work, I need wine- German Riesling or New Zealand Sauv Blanc, preferably- I can not drink anything dry if I am tense!
Food wise- Dumplings. For some reason, dumplings are a comfort food to me.
fdr1952 at 9:43AM on 06/04/09
anything that had to be killed in order for me to eat it, makes me feel as if my anger is so powerful it requires sacrifice to snuff it out.
CATERPILLARGIRL at 10:12AM on 06/04/09
Anything chocolate is always good.
Soft, chewy chocolate chip cookies work for me.
With a little vanilla ice cream for good measure.
KatomRS at 3:15PM on 06/04/09
@onepercent99: i'll take just the herb, thanks! haha
luxie at 12:18AM on 06/05/09
When I'm angry, I want to throw food, not eat it.
disneydreamscometrue at 2:33PM on 06/05/09
I can't eat when I am angry either. I can clean though, it's so therapeutic.
Now when I am stressed or anxious, then I can eat. Cheap ramen, pb&f, pasta with olive oil and garlic...anything starchy.
jenh718 at 2:43PM on 06/05/09
So many angry vodka drinkers! Count me in.
JustNancy at 4:56PM on 06/05/09
Wine. Preferably the bottle.
If I'm very angry but trying to "hold my tongue" I tend to eat very spicy Thai or Indian food. I think I must be trying to damage the poor sucker before I say something I regret.
TheKitchenWitch at 6:48PM on 06/05/09
I drink, then start baking furiously cause I'm a nut. This is how I once made a cheesecake in which I somehow dropped a bunch of eggshells into. The mixer was going so I couldn't fish them out, but I was just like "ok, whatever" and kept going. It tasted good, but my roommates and I were all kinda afraid to eat much of it! Baking calms me down, though.
BrooklynBaker at 8:53PM on 06/05/09
I add and eat an extra olive or two in my martini.
CJ McD at 5:51PM on 06/08/09
Red meat!
germanbreakfast at 9:54PM on 06/08/09
peanut butter...with anything.
bigfatmouth at 11:54PM on 06/08/09
Wheat thins. I can't hear my thoughts over the crunching.
Luby26 at 3:29PM on 06/09/09
A proper grilled cheese sandwich, served with decent crisps and a lot of beer. You dip the grilled cheese in mayo. There's something primal about mashing that sandwich down on the pan...
NotAmerican at 7:31PM on 06/09/09