Crafted by Fady Hany
Nutrition Psychologist Who Has 17+ Years of Expertise
You’re a Reward Eater
You eat to celebrate survival — or soothe restraint.
What does it really mean?
This is called the “I Deserve This Loop.”
You push hard. You meet expectations. You hold it all together.
And when the day’s finally over (or the scale finally goes down), your brain whispers:
“Now you get to have something.”
👉 You’re not out of control. You’re simply trying to balance the scales — using food as your emotional prize.
This often happens when there’s too much restriction and not enough reward in your life. It’s not about discipline — it’s about unmet needs.
Pattern
This is part of the “Earn-and-Eat Cycle.”
The reward becomes a routine — finish a hard day? Treat.
Did “well” on your diet? Dessert.
Got through something heavy? Pizza night.
👉 At first, it feels fair.
But soon, food becomes the only reward your brain recognizes.
Try This Instead
Instead of defaulting to food as your “well done” moment, try this exercise:
Write down 5 things that feel rewarding but don’t involve eating.
Examples:
Saying no without explaining yourself
30 minutes of guilt-free Netflix
Leaving your phone and walking outside
Buying something just for joy, not function
Taking a nap with no apology
🧠 Your brain doesn’t want junk. It wants validation.
You don’t need to stop rewarding yourself.
You just need better, more lasting rewards that reinforce your growth.