If you've ever had to cram in a whole meal within a 30-minute lunch break, then you know how it feels to eat under stress.

Before I quit my day job I used to do this 5 days a week:

Stuff down a snack, check my text messages and use the restroom in under 15 minutes.

When lunch finally came around, repeat.

It was so stressful to wait in line to buy your meal on top of feeling stressed out about work. Nasty customers, deadlines, call-outs. The last thing my body could muster was RELAX and eat.

I was often very nervous, stressed, or anxious when I finally escaped the hustle and bustle of work. My stomach would be in knots. My heart would be racing. Most of all I would be incredibly tense in my neck and shoulders.

I was surrounded by a cloud of negativity. Even coworkers added to the downward spiral of stress because they would be complaining about work.

It was hard to escape the cycle. How was I supposed to eat without stress when stress was everywhere?

When I did manage to scarf down a quick meal I felt like I had a stone in my stomach. Nothing ever digested well and I would find myself day after day regretting eating at all.

The only times I was able to feel good after eating was when I was relaxed and focused just on eating. I call it eating with reverence; the ability to focus on chewing, tasting, smelling, and truly enjoying your food.

Of course, eating with reverence is hard to do when you're in a fast-paced high-stress environment. It's a commonality to barely have time to chew your food properly and then deal with the consequences later.

These consequences often include:

• Acid reflux
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Heartburn
• Sour stomach
• Stomach pains and cramps

It may sound crazy but just adding a simple roll-on blend to your day can really help alleviate and even prevent these symptoms.

How to Make a Parasympathetic Roll-on Blend for Stress-Free Eating

This recipe is my attempt at a dupe/homemade version of Vibrant Blue Oils Parasympathetic Blend. I love creating dupes, but you can find the original

Here's what you're going to need:

1. Roll-on bottle
2. Clove essential oil
3. Lime essential oil (lime essential oil is highly phototoxic, be sure you're getting the steam distilled version! You can read more about phototoxic essential oils here.)
4. Copaiba essential oil (optional, but highly recommended as it amplifies other essential oils)

How to Make a Parasympathetic Roll-on Blend

1. Simply add 3 drops each of clove and lime essential oil if both oils are high quality. (If one or both essential oils are not high quality, add one drop of copaiba essential oil to amplify the therapeutic effects)
2. Cap tightly and roll the blend in your palms to mix.
3. Apply just a tiny dab to the vagal nerve on both sides before meals for best results. All you need is a tiny drop under each ear. If this therapeutic dose is too strong, simply add only a single drop of each essential oil and fill the rest of the roll-on bottle with sweet almond oil.

In order to fully benefit from this blend, it is also important to clear your mind of negativity and to also try and surround yourself with positive energy.

I did this by eating lunch outside when I could. If I couldn't then I would try to eat away from toxic people.

As you eat, allow yourself to enjoy the aroma, flavor, and texture or your food as best you can.

I know it's hard to do this when you only have 30 minutes to eat, but it really helps your body focus on digesting.

Don't want to make your own? Get the Parasympathetic Blend here.

Why These Essential Oils Work for Stress-Free Eating

Clove Essential Oil

Clove is known for its ability to dull pain, but did you know it can also dull negative emotions?

By applying it to the vagal nerve clove is able to increase energy, relieve fatigue, uplift the mood, and stimulate circulation.

Clove also plays an important roll in digestion by creating a cascading digestive effect that breaks through the sympathetic state or "fight or flight" mode stress causes.

Clove essential oil:

• Allows for better elimination
• Increase enzymatic activity in the small intestine
• Increase HCL in the stomach
• Increase nutrient absorption
• Increase saliva production
• Stimulate the release of bile
• Stimulate the release of pancreatic digestive enzymes

Get clove essential oil here.

Lime Essential Oil

Lime is best for relieving stress, anxiety, and nervousness. It refreshes the mind after a long day and is one of the best oils for depression. It's very uplifting when you're feeling down.

Lime essential oil:

• Brightens your mood
• Calms the nerves
• Clears trapped emotions
• Eases stress
• Helps eliminate stagnant energies
• Uplifts a tired mind

Lime is one of the best oils to combine with clove for an overall parasympathetic state. It's one of my favorites! Get lime essential oil here. Make sure you only get STEAM DISTILLED lime essential oil to help prevent sunburn on application areas.

You can learn more about phototoxicity HERE.

Just getting started? Check out the links below:

Beginners Guide to Essential Oils- Part 1
How to Use Essential Oils
Where to Start with Essential Oils

What more dupes? Check out my other recipes:

Deep Relief Dupe Recipe
Dragon Time Essential Oil Dupe
How to Make Believe Essential Oil
Momentum Blend for Change and Confidence