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A breakup can scramble your appetite in both directions: you might completely forget to eat (or have no appetite at all), or you're ravenous and suddenly feel like you could polish off an entire grocery aisle, maybe even the whole store. When your emotions are running the show, it’s tempting to treat food like a quick fix for discomfort. That urge is normal, and you're definitely not alone.

Still, what you reach for in those first few days or weeks when emotions are running high can quietly influence how you sleep, how steady your mood feels, and whether tomorrow plays out easier or harder. This isn’t about perfection or punishment; it’s about not making an already rough week feel worse. If you’re going to comfort yourself (and you should), there are a few choices that tend to backfire. Let's dive into what you shouldn't eat.

Sugar-Bomb Picks

Sugar-heavy snacks can feel like the easiest emotional button to push because they work fast. You get a quick hit of pleasure, your brain feels momentarily sated, and the world softens at the edges. For an hour or two, things might even feel okay again. The problem is that the drop afterward can be abrupt, and once the feel-good fades, you're often left feeling even more irritable or with a foggy, restless mood.

What makes this especially tricky during a breakup is how unpredictable your day already feels. A big dessert can spike your blood sugar and then send it tumbling, which doesn’t pair well with stress hormones that are already elevated. When your body is trying to recalibrate, that whiplash can leave you feeling oddly shaky or more anxious than you were before you ate.

If you’re craving something sweet, it’s not that sweetness is forbidden; it’s the “all at once” version that tends to run you off the rails. Eating an entire birthday cake on an empty stomach, or turning a bag of candy into dinner, can also crowd out the healthier, more nutritious meals that help you feel balanced and grounded. Sure, give yourself the treat, but do it in a way that supports you and your well-being.

Greasy Fast Food

There’s a certain logic to reaching for fries, pizza, or any fast-food combo when you’re emotionally exhausted. You don’t have to plan, you don’t have to cook; all you need to do is stuff your mouth full. But even if convenience matters right now, these high-fat, calorie-heavy meals can mess with your energy in a way that makes your wounds even more tender.

For one, heavy, fried foods are notorious for leaving people sluggish, bloated, and unusually uncomfortable after the initial satisfaction passes. Plus, when sleep is already fragile, a late-night greasy meal can also make it harder to settle down, which is the last thing you need when your mind is replaying conversations at 2AM. It’s hard to feel refreshed when you're running on four hours of sleep and a stomach that’s still working overtime.

Another issue is that fast food can quietly become a default coping pattern because it’s consistent and familiar. If you notice you’re ordering it every time you feel a wave of sadness, you’re teaching your brain to link distress with a very specific fix. That can hurt you and your body more in the long run.

Ultra-Salty, Hyper-Processed Snacks

You knew this one was coming.

Salt-forward snack foods are masters of the mindless munch, and they’re designed to keep you reaching back into the bag. Crunch can feel soothing, at least for the time being, and eating something while scrolling or texting can make the evening feel less empty. Unfortunately, a salty snack spiral can leave you feeling puffy, thirsty, and strangely unsettled—an annoying combo when you’re trying to regain your footing.

When you’re stressed, your body tends to hold onto water more easily, and very salty foods can intensify that sensation. You might wake up feeling swollen or dehydrated, and that physical discomfort can bleed into your mood in subtle ways. Even if it's subtle, it’s still disruptive, and when you're already feeling down you deserve a morning that doesn’t start with an unnecessary layer of irritation.

The other downside is nutritional thinness: a “snack meal” often has plenty of calories but not much that helps your brain feel stable. If dinner becomes chips, instant noodles, or crackers night after night, you'll miss out on protein, fiber, and minerals that support steadier energy. You don’t always need a perfect plate, but you do need enough real nourishment to keep your nerves from feeling frayed.

If you can't think of going without chips, the most helpful shift is usually adding rather than subtracting.

Pair the salty thing with something that actually satisfies: protein, fruit, yogurt, or a simple sandwich can do the job. It doesn’t have to be fancy. That way, you’ll still get the comfort, but you might be able to avoid the aftereffects that make your breakup feel louder than it already is. Keep your chin up!