7 strategies that help if you eat to feel grounded

It was midnight after being on the road since 5 in the morning that I found myself standing in the kitchen, unpacking from my trip and eating mindlessly. It took me a good 5-10 bites to realize what I was doing – I was eating to try to get grounded.

I have a two different names for this kind of eating…

TRANSITION EATING – because I used to always do it when I came back from trips or if I’d been out of the house for a really long time and I really wanted to “land” back home (and in my body).

EATING FOR GROUNDING – was what I did if something happened to make me feel spacey or “out of my body” (most feelings used to make me feel that way). Eating would bring me back to feeling grounded. I used to do this a lot at train stations and airports when I felt a little scattered by all the frenetic energy of everybody traveling.

Eating for grounding or transition-eating is a way to soothe ourselves. The basic idea of this kind of eating, is to use food as a way to get into your body – into the moment, into the feelings right here – right now.

Allow me to pause for a moment and say that ALL unwanted eating habits are messages for us, and this particular pattern of eating: eating when you walk into the house or when you’re at the airport (or whenever you feel a bit jangled and ungrounded) –  is no different. There’s a message here for us to learn and grow from.

The message for those of us who are eating for grounding, or transition-eaters is pretty clear – we want to feel rooted, we want to feel safe, trusting, protected, present and connected to ourselves. And for many of us, food has been our primary way to to achieve all that. The problem with always using food to feel grounded, is that we often end up regretting what we ate, or eating when we’re not hungry…or eating past our full signals.

Right now I want to offer you a way to work with your desire to feel grounded.

Here are 7 healthy ways to help you feel grounded in your body in a nourished way  – 3 of them are food suggestions, and 3 are not.

1: ACKNOWLEDGE THE FEELING

Stating out loud to yourself or anyone around that you are feeling ungrounded or in transition, moves you into being able to make the more intentional and purposeful choice of nourishing yourself in that moment. You can learn more about this technique here.

2. WATER

Drink a glass of water as soon as you get anywhere! After many years of eating when I walked into my house after a trip, I finally realized that I was transition-eating – now instead – I reach for a glass of water. This gives me the same physical feeling of taking something into my body, but without it being a food-regret in 10 minutes. Also, after a trip, we are often de-hydrated, so water helps to solve that problem.

3: EAT ROOT VEGETABLES

If you’re not feeling grounded and you ARE a bit hungry, try eating a carrot or beets or a sweet potato. Any root veggie will do. Root veggies grow deep into the ground, and when we eat them we take in that deeply rooted and grounded energy.

4. EAT PROTEIN

Here’s another food option if you are hungry and ungrounded – eat some protein. I find that a bit of intense protein – meat, fish or nuts – helps the body cope with the stress of travel. Protein has a heavy, contracted energy that gets me more connected to my body, and more focused in the moment.

5. JUMP UP AND DOWN

Honestly, jumping up and down will help you reconnect to the present moment – your body and your the earth – plus it will probably make you smile if you do it long enough.

6. GET A HUG

Ask someone or give someone a giant, long, bear hug. Being in the arms of someone else that you love and care for reminds you that you are safe. Also, feeling someone’s arms around you connects you to the boundaries of your body which can help you get back into your body if you feel like your a bit floaty and disconnected from your self.

7. OFFER YOURSELF SELF-COMPASSION

Whenever you are encountering an unwanted eating habit or pattern, the most important thing to do is to show yourself kindness and know that you aren’t the only one using food to cope with life – you aren’t bad or wrong or a failure – because food is your go-to, fix all. Be kind and patient with yourself, and know that showing yourself compassion is the first and most important step to healing your relationship with your food and  body.

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