Want more iVillage? Sign up for our
Newsletters
Healthy eating: Recognizing your hunger signals
Babies follow their hunger signals naturally. When their bodies tell them they're hungry, they let us know by crying or fussing. And they stop eating when they're full enough to be satisfied.
Distractions get in our way
As we grow up, lots of distractions lead us away from this natural way of eating:
- For most of us, food is everywhere—in grocery stores, corner markets, vending machines, and the office break room, to name just a few. It can be hard to pay attention to your hunger signals as you go about your day.
- You may skip breakfast because you'd rather sleep in. So when lunchtime rolls around, you're extra hungry and eat more than you should.
- You may watch TV, read, or use the computer while you eat. This can distract you so that you stop paying attention to what or how much you're eating or whether you're full enough to stop eating.
- You may often eat so fast that you barely even taste your food or pay attention to how full you really are.
- Stress or other emotions cause many of us to reach for food—not because we're hungry, but because food comforts us or helps us celebrate.
- Most of us are influenced by larger serving sizes. Research shows that when people are given larger portions, they eat more.
All these distractions can cause you to ignore your body's signals. You stop paying attention to how hungry you are or how full you are. Over time, you lose the skill of listening to and obeying your body's signals.
Learning to get back in touch with your hunger signals can be one of your best tools for getting to a healthy weight and staying there. Your hunger and fullness signals are still there. You just have to learn how to listen to them again.
Test Your Knowledge
Watching TV while you eat is good, because it takes your mind off of your food.
TrueWhile you're eating, it's better to concentrate on your food without a distraction like watching TV. That way you can more easily pay attention to your body signals and know when it's time to stop eating.
FalseWhile you're eating, it's better to concentrate on your food without a distraction like watching TV. That way you can more easily pay attention to your body signals and know when it's time to stop eating.
Continue to 
How can you get back in touch with your hunger signals?
Return to 
Healthy eating: Recognizing your hunger signals
| Author: | Cynthia Tank | Last Updated: May 14, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Ruth Schneider, MPH, RD - Diet and Nutrition Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine Rhonda O'Brien, MS, RD, CDE - Diabetes Educator | |
© 1995-2009 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
from
- Facebook is now fueling organ donations
- Military women and suicide: Home safe but not sound
- Still in gear: Injuries don’t stop veterans on 100-day bike trek
- Ask Jenna: I've hit a weight loss plateau. What do I do?
- He poses in a tutu to laugh in face of wife's cancer
- After chemo hair loss, 'henna crowns' help heal
The iVillage Network