Every Monday, That's Fit's very own "charged up" wellness guru Laura Lewis presents The Passion Principle, a weekly guide that will help you achieve your greatest potential through words of inspiration, cutting-edge ideas and action tips you can use in your every day life!

Your emotional state can affect your eating habits, so when you're depressed, you might find yourself diving into a pint of Haagen Daz and if you are stressed, that bag of salty chips and salsa might be just the ticket.

I had a wake-up call years ago after graduating from college with my degree in food and nutrition. I discovered while reviewing food diaries and in general exploratory discussions with folks that their food choices were often dictated by how they were feeling. Rare were the people who were so "good" with their diet that nothing "life oriented" knocked them off balance. Patterns began to emerge when I asked questions like, "What do you eat when you are stressed out?" or "What do you eat when you are sad?" Those who were often depressed chose foods such as ice cream and candy. Stressed-out people preferred salty items like chips or fries. Food and feelings go hand in hand for many. Yet, how in the world can we win the battle against our emotions when we are trying to lose weight?

Here are five slightly unconventional tips that might help you win your own personal battle with emotional eating!

• Just Dance. I know. He just broke up with you or you got into an argument and that pint of Vanilla Swiss Almond ice cream looks so good. Try to lock into the fact that even just one half-cup of your fantasy frozen concoction contains 20 grams of fat, which is about two-thirds of the amount you want to include in a healthy eating food plan. So put on Rihanna's "Shut Up and Drive" and dance your heart out. Do it over and over again. Then drink several huge glasses of water. Not only will you burn calories, but you'll be hydrated and will avoid a fat-laden, emotion-induced ingestion of food you really shouldn't eat if you are trying to fit into your fave jeans!
  
• Get Down with Arts and Crafts. Have you ever squished clay between your fingers? Created a sand sculpture? Painted with acrylics? Emotional eating is often rooted in boredom. Explore a new artistic skill and avoid snacking.
  
• Take a Hike. Invest in a pair of great walking shoes or hiking boots and take off for an off-the-beaten path hiking trail you've always wanted to check out. Then make it a regular habit, especially if those "go ahead and open the fridge" voices consistently whisper in your ear. And if the whispers occur at 2 a.m., a time when a day hike would be impossible, jump on your treadmill! No treadmill? No problem. Invest in this program, pop in the DVD, and you'll kick your cravings in the derriere.
  
• Feed the Ducks. Instead of scarfing down old bread, leftover waffles and pancakes, make a trek to a local park with your favorite carb goodies and share with your feathered friends.
  
• Have Sex. Umm, yes, I said it -- and I mean it. There was a film produced in the 70's entitled "Cold Turkey," where the people in one town were told they would win 25 million dollars if they quite smoking for an entire month! The actor, Dick Van Dyke's character, was the husband of a woman who had discovered having sex was a fantastic replacement to smoking cigarettes. Her face cleared up, she was more relaxed, and she was able to give up smoking without a hitch. Sex with someone you care about is a fabulous distraction from habits such as smoking and over-eating.

Doing something different in order to create permanent, positive change in your eating habits is an easy fix if your emotional eating isn't rooted in deeper, more complicated emotions. You may need to explore more serious solutions if you are actually a compulsive eater or have an eating disorder. Take this test to find out if you a really do have a problem with emotions and food.