What’s Your Nervous System Saying
Through Food
“My nervous system likes chocolate chip cookies.”
That line from a recent conversation with one of my colleagues landed hard. And not because it was funny or surprising, but because I understood it… Deeply.
I replied, “Mine goes straight for chips or anything crunchy. I think it was my way to block out the noise when I was younger, like he sound canceled out the yelling in my house for a moment.”
It was something I hadn’t realized before, but that moment of vulnerability was so uplifting. And maybe you’ve felt something like that, too.
Food as a Form of Safety
We often talk about food in terms of nutrition, cravings, or willpower here. But, I rarely see people talk about food or their eating habits through the lens of nervous system regulation.
And I wonder if it’s because we don’t really know what that looks like… So, I wanted to offer some examples.
Sometimes we reach for cookies at the holiday party because our body is whispering, “I don’t feel safe right now”, not because we’re actually hungry.
Sometimes we grab crunchy snacks because the repetitive motion and sound help us soothe, drown out the noise, or create rhythm in the chaos.
Sometimes we crave sweets because we’ve learned to associate them with moments of comfort or control when we are stressed or uncomfortable, not just for pleasure.
In those moments, which come up a lot more often than we may like to admit, food becomes more than food… And this is why I always say food is more than just fuel. Because now, food is a protector, shield, and strategy.
The Science Behind This Response
When our nervous system is in a heightened state of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn… It doesn’t crave kale salads, right?! It craves stimulation, something predictable, and something that soothes us ASAP.
But for those of us who grew up in emotionally charged or overstimulated environments… stillness didn’t feel safe. That’s how I grew up and the quiet didn’t feel calming; it felt threatening. So, my brain and many of my client’s brains learned to associate doing something and being busy, like eating, with peace and relief.
That’s what we call a brilliant survival strategy! But here’s the thing we need to recognize now that we are no longer in survival… what helped us survive then may not be helping us thrive now. And that’s where awareness becomes everything.
This is exactly what I help my clients do. We don’t “fix” eating habits, because there’s nothing that’s broken. We just need to understand the why underneath our eating habits to find stability and enjoyment. And when we bring compassion to those choices, something incredible happens…
Instead of immediately thinking, “Why do I keep doing this?”, we ask ourselves, “What is my body trying to protect me from right now?”. And instead of thinking, “I have no self-control”, we tell ourselves, “I’ve learned this pattern kept me safe once, and I’m ready to try something new.”.
Your Invitation For This Week
The next time you notice yourself reaching for food in a moment of stress, pause and ask:
What am I actually feeling right now? Am I overstimulated, anxious, exhausted, or something else?
Is this hunger… or is it my nervous system asking for help?
What’s one small way I can respond with care, even if I still eat?
What’s something I can do to support myself instead of punish myself?
This isn’t about restriction; it’s about awareness. And with that awareness comes the power to choose! And it’s not always perfect, but it’s definitely more intentional.
So, if you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing everything right” and still eating in ways that confuse you… maybe it’s not about the food at all. Maybe it’s your nervous system and it just hasn’t felt safe in a while. And maybe now is your chance to listen to it differently because you no longer need to be wired for survival. You’ve got this, and if you have any questions, you can email me at info.khhllc@gmail.com.
