The Food and Feelings Workbook: A Full Course Meal on Emotional Health

by Karen R. Koenig

An extraordinary, powerful connection exists between feeling and feeding that, if damaged, may lead to one relying on food for emotional support, rather than seeking authentic happiness. This unique workbook takes on the seven emotions that plague problem eaters — guilt, shame, helplessness, anxiety, disappointment, confusion, and loneliness — and shows readers how to embrace and learn from their feelings. Written with honesty and humor, the book explains how to identify and label a specific emotion, the function of that emotion, and why the emotion drives food and eating problems. Each chapter has two sets of exercises: experiential exercises that relate to emotions and eating, and questionnaires that provoke thinking about and understanding feelings and their purpose. Supplemental pages help readers identify emotions and chart emotional development. The final part of the workbook focuses on strategies for disconnecting feeling from food, discovering emotional triggers, and using one’s feelings to get what one wants out of life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Health, Psychology, Mental Health

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 15, 2007

About the author

Karen R. Koenig, LCSW, M.Ed., is a therapist, educator, eating coach, national speaker, international author, and expert on the psychology of eating—the how and why, not the what of it—with 30-plus years of experience teaching chronic dieters and overeaters the skills that "normal" eaters use naturally to maintain a comfortable, healthy weight for life without dieting.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Koenig is my new heroine. She writes from experience - her own with food, and with hundreds of clients. She knows this subject, she understands the pitfalls, the challenges, and the psychology behind them.
The book is super because it is a workbook. By doing the questions, I found I got a deeper understanding of each emotion and how it plays out in my life, and then WHAT TO DO to help myself when in those situations.
I always thought I was well versed in my feeling palette, but Karen has added a few new emotions that I had previously been unfamiliar with in myself. I now have a better sense of when I am experiencing them (which is often), and that awareness builds better self knowledge.
This book offers one of the important keys to those who are on the path to self knowledge and healing. It is not an overnight process, but it helps make the journey that much more worthwhile.
I highly recommend it.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for anyone who uses emotional eating as a crutch. And for anyone who's unable to stop letting the world hurt them, and in turn hurt themselves by bad eating habits. This book was part of a three book combo that has really helped me overcome destroying myself with food and understanding why I did it.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this one! It really goes into the details of why you have certain emotional reactions, why you feel things, and how to relearn feeling in the first place. There are more people struggling with emotional health, and this workbook is a wonderful guide to help you understand this, and it definitely helps you get into contact with your feelings again.

I loved how detailed and easy to follow the author’s explanations were, and after a general introduction into the topic she quickly focuses on a handful of major feelings you experience in connection with eating disorders. For a workbook I sometimes would have liked a few more exercises, but then again I am also completely fine with the way it is in this book, because I also find the knowledge Koenig passes on important.

So, for people who notice that they are acting out through dysfunctional eating and for those who are maybe struggling to connect with their emotions, I can full recommend this title. 5 out of 5 stars

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very useful tool IF: approached with an open mind, coupled with therapy (ideally disordered eating specialized therapy), and with a grain of salt (and a noodle of pasta).

Really useful in breaking down the complicated emotions tied to food and eating, and untangling the mess that leads to disordered eating in a way that makes sense and is impactful.

[Bobbi Wilds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this as a recommend for my my upcoming Bariatric surgery. Even if you are not an emotional eater, I highly recommend. It puts a lot into perspective and makes you think.

[Echo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worked through this slowly over the last two years with a trusted friend. It was incredibly insightful, and I'm glad we took our time with it.

[mellyana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't read them page by page. I don't do all the exercises. Not good, right? I read the first two chapters and do the exercise and jump to the most suitable chapter. I did read all chapters in brief. I found read this book that way helped me get the benefit of it. It is important to get basic understanding about emotion and she provides that. It does help me to get a better picture of how my eating habit is influenced by my emotion.

It is actually scary to really read them all - especially if you are too often ignore your emotions. The book forces you to really look deep. However, I think it is best to do this via a doctor rather than rely on book like this. Especially if you are having eating disorder. This book will help you to understand the link but I found the way out is too normative and generic. Easy language, good structure.

[Robin Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

so insightful.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14151104

[Maryann Jacobsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading. This books helps people who emotionally eat discover the emotions they are avoiding. The only book I've found that covers this important information.

[Steffie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helps you figure out why you do what you do!