Stress Eating M&Ms? Let’s Fix That (With a Smile!)

M&Ms: The tiny candy that thinks it’s your therapist.

Ever feel like M&Ms are plotting against you?

You know the drill: life gets hard, stress hits, and suddenly, you're halfway through a bag of M&Ms. Sound familiar? You're not alone. Emotional eating is like that sneaky friend who always shows up uninvited, especially when you're feeling low.

For me, M&Ms were my go-to. Tiny, colorful, and oh-so-comforting when things felt messy. But over time, I started wondering: Are these little candies helping me—or just making things worse?

If you're tired of letting food boss you around, let’s dive into how I took control (with a little humor and a lot of curiosity).

Why We Stress Eat (aka Why Food Feels Like a Bestie Sometimes)

Here’s the thing: emotional eating isn’t about the food—it’s about what’s eating you. For me, M&Ms became my “emotional crutch.” Here's why this happens to so many of us:

• Stress makes us snacky: When life feels out of control (like when my main client decided to shut down), my brain screamed, “Quick! Find something sugary!”

• Old habits die hard: I didn’t realize M&Ms were my new Nutella. (Yep, I’d already “broken up” with Nutella—long story—but M&Ms quietly slid into its place.)

Breaking free isn’t about banning the snacks; it’s about facing them head-on. That’s what I did with my M&Ms Experiment.

The M&Ms Experiment: My Stress, My Rules

So, here’s what I did: instead of swearing off M&Ms forever (been there, failed that), I bought 3 whole pounds of them. Yep, 3 pounds.But there was a twist: I had to eat them mindfully. That means no zoning out, no Netflix snacking—just me, the M&Ms, and full focus.

Here’s what happened:

1. Permission killed the craving: Knowing I could eat M&Ms anytime made them less tempting. Scarcity makes food feel forbidden—and way more desirable.

2. Mindful eating works magic: When I slowed down and really tasted each one, I realized…they weren’t even that great. (Sorry, M&Ms fans.)

3. Curiosity over guilt: Instead of feeling bad for wanting M&Ms, I got curious. Why was I reaching for them? Was I actually hungry—or just stressed?

Turns out, most of the time, I didn’t even want them. Mind blown.

Want to Try Your Own Craving Experiment?

This isn’t just about M&Ms—you can do this with any food that has a hold on you. Here’s how to start:

1. Pick your “craving food”: Maybe it’s chips, cookies, or ice cream. You know the one.

2. Buy it in bulk: Enough to feel like you’ll never run out (because scarcity fuels obsession).

3. Give yourself permission: No rules, no guilt—just a promise to eat it mindfully.

4. Get curious: How does it taste? Do you even like it? Are you eating because you’re hungry—or because your boss sent that passive-aggressive email?

   
   

   The Sweetest Lesson: You’re In Control

   Here’s the big takeaway: emotional eating doesn’t have to control you. By giving myself permission to eat M&Ms, I stopped feeling controlled by them. Whether I decide to keep them in my pantry or say goodbye for good, it’s my choice now—not some stress-fueled autopilot.

   So, what about you? Ready to stop letting cravings run the show? You can totally do this.

   And if you’d like some help along the way, book a free call with me. Together, we’ll tackle cravings, stress eating, and anything else that’s keeping you stuck.