Sunlight, Sanity, and Sandwiches: How the Outdoors Supports Intuitive Eating
To say that it’s been a hot summer is an understatement! Across the U.S. temperatures have been unusually intense, day after day. Some afternoons, the air feels more like soup than something we’re meant to breathe. I’ve spent more time than I’d like to admit hiding out in my living room, curtains drawn, A/C humming, and cold drink in hand. Honestly, it’s been kind of nice in that cocooned, sleepy way…until it wasn’t.
After a few too many days in a row, I noticed something: I felt off. Not physically sick, but emotionally sluggish. I even caught myself mindlessly munching more than usual—not out of hunger, but out of a strange sort of restlessness.
Sure, I had gotten outside to run errands but not enough to feel like I was “in nature”. And it got me thinking: maybe the lack of fresh air and sunlight had more to do with my mood (and even my eating) than I realized.
Sunlight isn’t just about warmth or a tan. It plays a big role in our mental well-being. Exposure to natural light, especially in the morning. Sunlight helps regulate our circadian rhythm and boosts serotonin, which supports better mood, clearer thinking, and even steadier energy. All of which, by the way, are deeply connected to how we eat.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned through intuitive eating is that food is never just about food. Often, when I feel ungrounded, I start reaching for snacks not because I’m physically hungry, but because I’m looking for comfort or distraction. There’s nothing wrong with emotional eating—it’s part of being human—but tuning into why we’re reaching for something can be a powerful form of self-awareness.
And nature, especially sunlight, can help bring us back to that awareness.
I’ve noticed a real difference on the days I make space to step outside, even briefly. Just 10–15 minutes of fresh air and sunlight makes it easier to check in with myself. Infact, I’m more connected to myself.
Nature supports our ability to nourish ourselves—not through control or willpower, but through reconnection. Try stepping outside with your coffee tomorrow morning. Or a morning walk before the temperatures rise or even later in the day at dusk when the heat calms down. Let yourself just be—no agenda, no guilt. Your body, your mind, your appetite... they just might thank you.