Food and our emotions go hand in hand. Eating something can seriously impact our mood. But new research sheds light on how people experiencing anger may crave crunchy food, while those experiencing anxiety may prefer something soft. This highlights how not just food, but its texture, may influence our emotions.
Do We Crave Crunchy Food In Anger?
We have grown up thinking that eating sugary and oil-laden foods can make us happy after a bad day. But it seems that new research suggests that food texture can also play a major role. A 2026 study titled ‘Crunch Your Anger, Squash Your Anxiety: Impact Of Negative Emotions On Food Texture Preferences’ by S. Sinem Atakan and Hazal Duman Alptekin, published in the journal Appetite, has explored this connection.
According to the study, texture is a central part of our food experiences and can be as important as taste and aroma. The researchers investigated how two negative emotions, anger and anxiety, shape our eating behaviour. The study found that anger increased the preference for crunchy foods, while anxiety increased the preference for mushy foods.
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The Preferences May Not Be Same For Everyone
The study gives two examples of students. One is anxious while waiting for exam results, while the other is angry after an airline damages his suitcase. Both will eat that day, but the angry student may prefer crunchy food that involves forceful biting. On the other hand, the anxious student may prefer something soft and soothing.
The study suggests that crunchy food may help people express aggression, while mushy textures may offer comfort and calmness. However, these preferences may not be the same for everyone. According to research conducted on a group of students, anger increased participants’ preference for crunching, while anxiety increased their preference for squashing food.
The researchers describe this as a congruency effect, which means that the texture of the food matches the action a person may feel like taking in response to their emotions. These studies explore how emotions may influence our food preferences, but the findings may not apply to everyone. Hormones, mood and personal preferences can also play a role in what we crave when experiencing anger or anxiety.
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So, tell us, what do you reach for when you feel angry or anxious?
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FAQs
Why do people eat sweets when stressed?
Stress may increase cravings for sweet foods because they can feel comforting.
What is mushy food?
Mushy food is soft food that is easy to eat without much chewing.
