True Hunger vs. Emotional Hunger

Sometimes you feel hungry and are truly hungry. Perhaps you didn’t eat enough for your energy output. Perhaps, you didn’t have enough protein or healthy fats at your last meal. The other times we become hungry because we are preoccupied with the thought of food. This is not a true hunger, but more of an emotional hunger. Emotional hunger urgently wants to be filled, usually with a specific food, like a comfort food or sweet and is often followed by the feeling of guilt or shame after eating.

When you are trying to distinguish between the two I ask you to do the following. Cultivate curiosity around what drives you to eat regularly, especially outside of meal times. Become hyper aware by recording insights in a journal or making notes on your phone. The awareness will help you make healthier, conscious choices that support you and your health.

I invite you to use the following journal prompts when, you are feeling hungry in between your next meal.

Emotional Eating vs. True Hunger

Journal Prompts:

*Time I feel hungry: (see if there is a pattern)

*What am I doing/ working on right now?

*What is cueing my hunger? Am I actually hungry or sad, bored or anxious?

*Is there something I am wanting to avoid, procrastinate or distract yourself at that moment?

*What is it that you are wanting right now?

*What I am choosing to do to honour my body right now is…

Once you discover if your hunger is emotional or true hunger. Then you are able to make a conscious decision around what action you want to take next. Maybe, instead of doing your usual habit of eating a comfort food, you maybe change the habit and continue journaling. If journalling isn’t for you, try another form of self care, like going for a walk, reading a book, or listening to your favourite song.