talking on phone

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If you're eating to deal with stress, what you really need is mental distraction—anything fun that takes your mind off your worries. In a study that looked at how nurses cope with stress, distraction was an effective method. Instead of relying on food, call a friend or listen to music to get your mind off troubling thoughts.
chocolate

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If you're eating to feel better emotionally, here's some good news: You don't need a lot of comfort food to improve your outlook. Go for quality, not quantity. Research has found that just a bit of chocolate may trigger a release of mood-boosting opioids. And a 2004 study showed that around two ounces of chocolate can have a positive effect on mood.
cookies

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Finally, beware of food pushers, people who encourage you to try the cookies they baked or have another serving of cake. Turning them down can be difficult, so if a simple "No, thank you" doesn't work, ask to take some home instead—where you can decide how much to taste.

The perfect snack for the anxious, the tired and the stressed