How Art Helps Me Resist Food Cravings 

Creativity has always been a deep part of who I am. My earliest childhood memories are of making green playdough mermaids and pink tissue paper carnations for fun. But as an adult, I’ve come to rely on my artsy side as a way to shift my mentality about food. 

Mindful eating coach Susan Zilberman once said to me that food cravings are rarely about actual hunger. The trick to beating food cravings is to channel your energy to something that satisfies a deeper need in you than, say, a handful of milk chocolate almonds. 

The trick to beating food cravings is to channel your energy to something that satisfies a deeper need in you than, say, a handful of milk chocolate almonds. 

That’s where art comes in for me as a rechanneling tool, because there’s no deeper need in me than to create and experience art. As a bonus, it turns out there’s a direct correlation between stress and snacking, while  esearch has also shown that art interventions can have incredible results when it comes to stress management and prevention. 

Add it all together and it turns out that there can be incredible health benefits to embracing your inner artist, including improved memory and cognition. Here’s what works for me. 

Mindless Sketching: when art become play

Starting making art can be intimidating, especially if it’s been a long time since you last picked up a crayon. You might not think you’re very good--or, in fact, know for a fact that you’re bad at drawing. Believe it or not, though. None of that matters. Because from the point of view of rechanneling your energy when you’re feeling a craving, it’s not about the result. It’s about the process.

When I started sketching again, I had a hard time convincing myself of this. I tried to sketch, but I was so worried about whether what I was drawing was good or not that it was adding to my stress… and my snacking. I had to remind myself that for the purposes of stress management and craving reduction, the importance was on the creative act itself, separate from any aesthetic merit. This led me to upcycle an old sketchbook, loaded with scribbles so lousy I wouldn’t want anyone to lay eyes on them. Since these images had already failed in my mind, not caring about the outcome was a game changer. I added shapes, swirls, oranges and blues—my hand effortlessly flowing. 

Whether for five minutes or  hour, mindless sketching allows me to shift my headspace and return with a new perspective.

Whether for five minutes or  hour, mindless sketching allows me to shift my headspace and return with a new perspective. I suggest trying this with a used or new sketchbook, and watercolor pencils. Flexible yet precise, the pencils let you expand color in a meditative way and give you options. Use them strictly as pencils if you like. Dip the tip in water for a more intense color. Or add a brush and create a wash. After the sketch is done, resist judging, and turn the page. Then notice how the stress and food cravings melt away.

Viewing art: let your your eyes do the work

Creating art yourself isn’t the only way to use art to rechannel your energy and embrace your health. 

When I can make the time, I get my legs moving and head to a gallery, sculpture garden, bookstore, or library—anywhere I can look at art. I always notice a change of energy when surrounded by art, I feel more peaceful, clear-headed. 

Creating art yourself isn’t the only way to use art to rechannel your energy and embrace your health.

I’m fortunate to live close to Sotheby’s auction house, so that’s one of my favorite places to engross myself, choosing a piece at random and asking myself: how does this make me feel, and what was the artist thinking? But while it can be great for your metabolic goals to get moving and out of the house, art doesn’t need to be experienced in person to have benefits to your health and wellbeing, or distract you from cravings. Look at work online, or keep a scrapbook of physical or digital images to look at that evoke a response in you. Then revisit it when your body is telling  

Self-care: discover what you need 

But how do you know when you should take an art break? Like a lot of people, I sometimes push myself and lose track of time when working, which can add to my stress, take a toll on my mind-body health, and lead to intense food cravings. To remedy this, mini check-ins throughout the day have become a ritual. Every hour or two, I pause to observe my actions, and use that info to determine what I need. 

Here’s how I do it: I imagine viewing myself as though I’m on a movie screen or giant mirror. Am I fidgety? Do I appear stressed? Am I hunching over my computer? Are there chocolate pretzels in my mouth and I don’t even remember putting them there?

Step two: I’ll silently ask myself as though talking to a friend: “Do you need to stop? Can you take a break now?” Depending on how much time I can spare, and my mood, that’ll determine my creative break. 

Conclusion 

Whether it’s to avoid burnout, to clear your head, or to help you eat healthy, lean into your creative side. Simple and accessible to everyone, its benefits far outweigh any fears you may have associated with artistic ability. Think of it in playful terms instead of skill—time spent on imaginative activities ought to feel light and fun. If you’re unsure where to begin, I suggest reflecting on your childhood and selecting a medium you enjoyed back then. Maybe it’s fingerpainting, playdough, magic markers, crayons. Pick up some supplies and give yourself permission to begin again. 

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