How to Know if You’re Actually Hungry

Although it might sound strange at first, recognizing when your body is telling you it’s hungry is actually a skill. People eat for all kinds of reasons — for example, because it’s “dinner time” or because they’re feeling emotional or bored.

 

But there are true signs of physical hunger. Here they are:

• Your stomach might be rumbling
• Your stomach might feel empty
• You have actual hunger pangs

 

 

In order to know if you’re actually, physically hungry, it might be helpful to do a mental check-in before eating.

• Are you feeling sadness or other emotions that were triggered by something happening in your day?
• When was the last time you ate a meal or snack? When did you last drink water?

 

 

Take notice of any themes — emotions, triggers, habits and times of the day. You will probably learn quite a bit when you look back over a couple of days of notes.