You’re stressed. You grab chips, cookies, or anything quick and comforting.

For a moment, it feels better.

Then—boom.

The guilt kicks in.

The anxiety doubles down.

And the cycle starts all over again.

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

Here’s what’s wild: anxiety and eating poorly feed each other. Literally.

Why does anxiety make you eat badly?

Stress cranks up your cortisol levels, and guess what that does? It makes your body scream for sugar, salt, and fat—the “comfort” trifecta.

These quick fixes give your brain a tiny hit of dopamine, but the relief doesn’t last.

And how eating bad fuels anxiety?

Junk food is a double agent. It feels like it’s helping, but it’s secretly working against you.

• Blood sugar rollercoaster: That sugary snack spikes your energy, but then your levels crash—and your mood crashes with it.

• Gut-brain connection: Ultra-processed foods mess with your gut, where most of your serotonin (the happy hormone) is made. A stressed gut = a stressed brain.

• Inflammation overload: Junk food fuels inflammation, which has been linked to higher anxiety levels.

Let’s break the vicious cycle

It’s not about quitting comfort food cold turkey—it’s about shifting habits. Small wins, one bite at a time.

As I always say:

One step at a time.

I Dare You to swap one anxiety-triggering snack for an energy-boosting, stress-busting alternative:

Instead of that bag of chips
Try a handful of almonds and dark chocolate

(bonus: magnesium in both helps calm nerves)

Would you want me to create a challenge to help you change your food habits one small step at a time? 

If you’re in, let me know by replying with your eye color. (Yep, your eye color—I’ve got my quirky ways, but you already knew that!)

To a better you every day,

-Lila