There are many reasons why emotional eating may increase over during the winter. Some studies indicate shorter days and longer nights or physiological responses to cold weather contribute to weight gain. However, another significant contributor to emotional eating during the winter is anxiety over family and friend gatherings or beginning-of-year stressors. Rather than giving into emotional eating during the winter, consider using these strategies to stay in control.

First, be aware of and own your issues when it comes to the winter months. It is important to understand emotional eating is the attempt to satisfy an emotional need using your taste buds.

Second, work on developing new traditions that are not focused on eating unhealthy food. This might mean you reinvent a recipe with healthy ingredients or create a brand new activity that has nothing to do with eating. 

Third, the only one controlling emotional eating is you. You are the only one that has control over your thoughts and actions.