In this TEDx talk, Elaine Zhang explores the emotional relationship we have with food and how greater awareness can help us build a healthier, kinder connection with eating. Through personal insight and reflection, she invites us to rethink how we respond to our emotions and reminds us that food can be both nourishing and joyful.

This Nutrition Month 2026, I’m grateful to have my Coconut Lentil Crunch recipe included in the Dietitians of Canada cookbook. The recipe celebrates lentils as a versatile, nutrient-rich ingredient and shows how simple foods can become delicious, nourishing snacks.

Emotional eating is not a lack of willpower — it’s a learned coping pattern that often begins early in life, when food becomes linked with comfort and safety. As dietitians, we use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to gently address the “here and now” patterns that keep this cycle going. By combining nutrition science with practical cognitive and coping skills, we help clients move from guilt and restriction toward regular eating, emotional awareness, and self-compassion. Recovery isn’