Andrew Hutchins' book, Food Was My Mistress: An Examination of Food and Emotional Dependence, is an emotional eating memoir that shares his honest story about living with food as more than just nourishment. He wrote it for people who have "fed their pain instead of facing it" and struggled with food, self-worth, silence, or shame. This book isn't a diet plan; it's a declaration, a mirror, and a map for anyone searching for freedom.
Hutchins explains how food became his "safe space" during a difficult childhood, giving him comfort when life felt unstable. As he grew older, food turned into a "mistress" and later a "captor," especially through challenges like school struggles, lost dreams, and the grief of losing his uncle. This dependence eventually harmed his health, revealing the deep ties between emotional health and food dependence.
Inspired by his daughter, Hannah, he chose to make a change. With a careful plan that included new eating habits, self-reflection, and gastric bypass surgery, he worked to regain his health and identity.
This is a memoir about food and healing, but also a memoir about self-worth and food-a reminder that breaking free from emotional eating isn't easy, but it is possible. Hutchins shows it's a daily choice, one built on self-love and the courage to face the truth.
