Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have a co-conspirator in the war on your well-being: Duncan Hines.
During stressful times, overeating is practically our national therapy.
Read on for their winning strategies.
Food Stylist: Jee Levine
And although she kept her job, she inherited the workof her laid-off colleagues.
Plan for pasta.Stern craves carbs at night because they liftserotonin levelswhich makes her feel relaxed, Bauer says.
Stern can also fill her fridge with portion-controlledversions of her favorite snacks.
Donneralso often goes nearly all day without eating.
“Don’t shy away from inexpensive cannedand frozen produce and protein.
It’s packed at its peak and can last upto a year,” she says.
Try canned beans, peas, salmon and tomatoes, andstock up during sales.
Create your meals around these nutritious foods,rather than indiscriminately buying whatever is marked down.
Using this strategy can help Donner avoid starving allday, which sets her up to overdo it come dinnertime.
“I’m so exhausted anddepressed that I eat and eat and eat,” Fenster says.
“I was stunned torealize I’ve regained all the weight I lost after my two pregnancies.”
Make breakfast in a flash.Fenster eats a bagel with peanut butteror Nutella nearly every morning.
“They’re cheap and convenient,” shesays.
But they’re also weighing her down: A bagel with 2 tbsp Nutellaadds up to 540 calories!
She can nuke one low-cal combo each A.M.for a punch of filling (cheap!)
Break the stress cycle.The more worried Fenster feels, the morecarelessly she eats.
When she panics about her finances, she shouldwrite down her specific fears and research solutions, Louden says.
(Findanswers to common money woeshere.)
Once she gathers information,life will feel more manageable.
“No one is hiring,” she says.
She lives at herparents' home to cut costs and spends much of her downtime overeating.
“I can’t resist my mom’s home cooking,” she says.
Put on your chef’s hat.
Host a healthy happy hour.
“We tend to drink more when we’restressed because it relaxes us.
But it loosens inhibitions andstimulates appetite,” Louden says.
Her bank account andher body will benefit.
Photo Credit: Bill Diodato
