What Happens When You Bring Stress to the Table

Ever sit down to eat and realize you're distracted, rushing, or already thinking about the next thing instead of the food in front of you? That's stress taking a seat at the table, and it's quietly impacting your digestion, your metabolism, and your ability to enjoy your food. Even though I've been teaching and sharing about this for over a decade, I recently had a firsthand reminder of how stress can sneak into meals and have real consequences. Stress can show up in many ways – from multitasking while eating, rushing from one thing to the next, overthinking food choices, or running through that constant inner dialogue about whether you're "doing it right." The good news is that you can shift your physiology and get the most from your meals. I dive into simple and practical ways to move out of that stressed state so your body can "rest and digest", allowing your food to be more nourishing, satisfying, and energizing. In this episode, you'll learn: What stress does to your body while eating The subtle ways stress shows up at your table (that you might not even notice) How overthinking food choices and trying to optimize every bite can backfire The negative impact of multitasking while eating (and what to do instead) Simple shifts to support your nervous system and improve digestion You'll feel empowered to leave stress behind and sit down to eat in a much more relaxed state of mind. Supportive Resources: Calm Your Nervous System and Find Inner Peace Walk Your Way to Energy, Clarity, and Calm The Food-Mood Bundle ($15 special offer!!) Learn More about Elise Museles: Work 1:1 with Elise (get 50% off with code FOODSTORY) Food Story: Rewrite the Way You, Eat, Think, and Live Website: elisemuseles.com Instagram: @elisemuseles Facebook: @elisemuseles

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What Happens When You Bring Stress to the Table is an episode from Once Upon A Food Story by Elise Museles.

This episode is 16:55 long.

This episode was published on Mar 18, 2026.

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