When Peanut M&M’s Stopped Calling My Name (and What It Taught Me About Emotional Eating)

Tracy Astle
Sep 9
3 min read

For years, my road trip tradition was non-negotiable:

👉 Fill up the tank.

👉 Grab a big yellow bag of peanut M&M’s.

👉 Hit the road.

They weren’t just a snack. They were part of the ritual.

Honestly, I had more than a habit—I had an emotional attachment. Peanut M&M’s meant road trips, freedom, vacation vibes, and a little burst of happiness in the middle of long stretches of highway.

But here’s the surprise twist: on a road trip I took this summer, I didn’t eat a single one.

Not because I was denying myself. Not because I was “being good.” Not because I was flexing my willpower.

I just… didn’t want them.

The Myth of “Vacation Calories”

For years, I also carried around this unspoken (and very silly) rule:

If you’re on vacation—or at least 100 miles from home—somehow the food you eat doesn’t “count.”

As if calories stop working once you cross a state line.As if sugar loses its effect if you’re sitting by a hotel pool.

😂 Can you imagine if gravity worked like that?

Of course, we know better. Yet many of us hold onto little food myths like these—stories we tell ourselves to give permission, find comfort, or justify habits.

It’s not judgment—it’s just human.

Why We Attach Emotion to Food

Here’s the thing: food is emotional.

And that’s not all bad.

✨ The joy of sharing a birthday cake.

✨ The comfort of your grandmother’s recipe.

✨ The laughter of a family holiday meal.

Emotions make eating rich, meaningful, and memorable.

The challenge comes when food becomes our only source of comfort.When we reach for a snack not because we’re truly hungry, but because we’re tired, stressed, lonely, or bored.

That’s when it stops serving us—and starts weighing us down.

What Changed for Me

So why, after all those years of road-trip peanut M&M’s, did I suddenly not want them?

It wasn’t willpower.

It wasn’t a new rule.

It wasn’t self-denial.

It was learning to pause long enough to notice what I was actually hungry for.

The truth? I wasn’t craving candy. I was craving the joy and freedom of the journey itself.

And even more importantly: I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that what I’m really hungry for can’t be satisfied in a bag of candy.

The Bible says it best:

“For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” —Psalm 107:9

Only God can meet those deeper hungers—for peace, comfort, and connection.

When I turn to Him, food takes its rightful place again: as fuel, as enjoyment, as part of life—but not as my savior.

Encouragement for You

If you’ve ever found yourself standing in front of the pantry at the end of a long day, hoping a handful of something sweet will ease the ache inside—you’re not alone.

And you’re not broken.

👉 Emotional eating isn’t about weakness.

👉 It isn’t about willpower.

👉 It’s about trying to soothe a deeper need.

Food can dull the ache for a moment, but it can’t heal it.

The good news? You don’t have to “fix” this with diets or deprivation.

You can learn to pause, invite God into the moment, and discover what your soul is really craving.

That’s where lasting freedom begins.

And little by little, you’ll notice changes—like no longer needing peanut M&M’s to make a road trip complete.

A Simple Next Step

Friend, if this resonates with you, I’ve created a simple, practical resource to help you begin.

It’s called:

Stop Emotional-Eating Before It Starts: A Faith-Based 3-Step Plan You Can Use Tonight

Inside, you’ll discover how to:

✅ Take one holy pause when temptation hits

✅ Pinpoint what you’re really hungry for

✅ Find comfort in ways that truly nourish body and soul

It’s quick, encouraging, and something you can start using right away.

👉 Stop Emotional Eating Before It Starts: A 3-Step Plan

Because life’s too short to spend another night feeling defeated by food.

And if peanut M&M’s can lose their hold on me…I promise, freedom is possible for you too.

If this post resonated with you, please consider sharing it to spread the word. It might be of use to someone you know.

If you’d like to learn more about this topic, click HERE to book a chat with me, or follow me on Facebook @Nourishing Body & Soul or on Instagram @tlastle.nourishingbodyandsoul