How Do I Stop Obsessing About Food This Holiday Season? Understanding Food Noise
TL;DR
Food noise = intrusive thoughts about food, rules, and guilt.
Signs: obsessing over meals, cravings, constant food thoughts.
Tips to quiet it: set boundaries, name the noise, use grounding tools, remind yourself there are no “bad” foods.
Remember: It’s not about willpower—it’s about awareness, self-compassion, and seeking support if needed.
Are you ready for the smell of roasted turkey, pies cooling on the counter, and the inevitable chorus of “just one more bite” everywhere?
For some, Thanksgiving is all fun and food. For others, it’s a flood of obsessive thoughts. The intrusive kind over calories, portions, guilt, judgment, rules, ‘shoulds,’ and ‘shouldn’ts’ spinning around in your head nonstop.
Food noise doesn’t care if you’re at a family dinner or a friend’s house. It whispers, nags, and sometimes shouts. While some people seem to glide through the holidays, others wrestle silently. Hiding their struggle from everyone, even themselves. While others focus on playing games, sharing stories, and swapping recipes, you’re just trying to disguise the overwhelm happening in your mind.
This post is for the person who wants to get through the holidays while minimizing the food noise—without binging, purging, or restricting.
Understanding food noise is important because it can be a barrier to enjoying food without guilt, maintaining balanced eating habits, and managing weight and overall health.
By recognizing food noise and learning strategies to reduce it, it’s possible to interact with food more calmly, make intentional choices, and regain a sense of peace during meals.
What Is Food Noise?
Researchers have linked food noise to what’s called food cue reactivity. It’s our brain’s natural response to internal and external food signals, like seeing, smelling, or even thinking about food. While this mechanism evolved to help humans survive in times of scarcity, in today’s food environment, it can contribute to overeating and intrusive thoughts about food.
It’s important to know that food noise doesn’t only happen with “junk” food. For many, it manifests as a relentless internal debate over what is healthiest, leaving them trapped in cycles of anxiety and indecision.
Food noise describes the constant (often intrusive) thoughts about food and the rules we create around eating, whether we’re hungry or not. These rules are often formed from early interactions about food. Social media influences the rules, too. It can feel like an internal tug-of-war, taking up mental, emotional, and even physical space.
Sometimes the food noise is so ingrained in your daily life, it’s hard to recognize it.
Am I Experiencing Food Noise?
Here are some common signs that you may experience food noise:
You’re already full, but you can’t stop thinking about your next bite.
You feel strong urges to eat when you see, smell, or even think about food, even if you’re not hungry.
You struggle to resist cravings, especially for foods you’ve “forbidden” yourself, despite your best intentions.
You find yourself planning or obsessing over meals and snacks more than anything else in your day.
You notice food thoughts creeping in at random moments, like during work, driving, or scrolling on your phone.
You feel a tug-of-war between comfort eating and wanting to make mindful choices, as if two parts of your brain are constantly arguing.
Can I Get It To Stop?
Some people CAN quiet the food noise with awareness alone. Others may need additional support whether that’s working with a registered dietitian, a mental health clinician, or exploring appropriate medication. (There is no shame in asking for help!)
Managing food noise isn’t about willpower. It’s about noticing patterns, recognizing triggers, and experimenting with strategies that bring calm and choice back to your relationship with food.
By integrating curiosity, self-compassion, and practical tools, you can gradually quiet the internal chatter and reclaim space in your mind, body, and daily life.
Over time, what once felt chaotic can become more manageable.
Remember, you don’t have to do this alone. There are medications, programs, and support groups designed to help you navigate and respond to food noise in ways that are sustainable and compassionate.
Tips For Quieting The Noise:
When food noise spikes and your mind feels out of control, try one or more of these quick strategies:
Create conversation parameters or step back. You don’t have to engage in every conversation about food, calories, or “shoulds.” (“I’m not up for talking about food right now.”)
Remind yourself of truths. There aren’t any bad foods. What you eat doesn’t define you. You aren’t your weight. No one knows your full story, and you don’t need to justify your choices.
Use grounding tools. Take deep breaths, notice your senses, sip water, or excuse yourself for a short walk when the noise gets loud.
Name the noise. Silently acknowledge the noise. Recognizing it can reduce its power and help you respond instead of react.
This week, it’s not about perfection. It’s about reducing overwhelm so you don’t spiral.
Each small step you take is a win, and it’s okay to prioritize your mental and emotional space over holiday pressure.
With care,
Ronelle
References
Cleveland Clinic. Food noise and how to stop it. Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/food-noise-and-how-to-stop-it
Yeomans, M. R. (2000). The Psychology of Food Choice. PMC. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10674813/
Tribole, E., & Resch, E. (2020). The Intuitive Eating Workbook (2nd ed.). New Harbinger Publications.
