Craving Comfort: Understanding Emotional Eating- Season 3 Episode 26

In this episode of Body Peace Podcast , Jennie Kramer and Nina Manolson invite listeners into an honest, compassionate, and clinically grounded exploration of emotional eating—a behavior that so many experience, yet so few feel permission to speak about without shame. The conversation begins with a powerful original poem by Nina, A Poem for Anyone Who's Ever Eaten Their Feelings, setting the tone for an episode rooted in curiosity, tenderness, and self-understanding. Jennie and Nina go on to unpack the difference between emotional eating and binge eating, the somatic experience of feelings, and the way modern culture has taught us to fear our own internal cues. Rather than offering restrictive advice or diet culture tropes, Jennie and Nina offer practical tools and clinical insight to help listeners begin identifying what they’re really feeling—whether it’s hunger for food, for rest, for comfort, or for expression. Through the lens of self-trust and body attunement, they reframe emotional eating not as failure, but as a human response—one that deserves compassion and context. Key Takeaways: Emotional eating is not inherently wrong—it is a form of coping that can be met with curiosity rather than judgment. The difference between emotional eating and binge eating often lies in intentionality, volume, and the capacity for choice. Restriction is not a useful tool for managing emotional eating; in fact, it often deepens the cycle of shame and self-punishment. Body attunement—being able to name sensations and feelings—is a critical skill that fosters healing and reduces reactivity. Techniques like journaling, naming feelings out loud, mindful eating practices, shaking, and cold sensory input can support nervous system regulation in moments of overwhelm. Self-trust and community are essential in untangling our relationship with food—and in giving ourselves permission to feel without outsourcing our experience. Whether you're a clinician, a caregiver, a partner, or simply someone who’s ever turned to food in search of comfort, this conversation offers a deeply compassionate and practical framework for understanding emotional eating with greater clarity, tenderness, and self-respect. To connect with Nina and Jennie or access tools mentioned in this episode, visit www.bodypeacepodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices