Hangry. It’s a silly word, really… but it makes a lot of sense to me!

I am definitely one of those people that get’s a little antsy if extremely hungry! People often ask me if they should graze all day to avoid hunger and to keep their metabolism firing, but I am here to say that a little bit of hunger is actually a good thing.

In this modern world we are constantly reminded of food. Whether it is an ad on the television, a colleague walking into the office with an aromatic cinnamon doughnut or the ice-cream van playing a tune down the street. We are surrounded by food – the sight and smell of food is unavoidable. I call this Head Hunger – a feeling above the heart that is often sparked by external influences. It’s also often linked with boredom or habit.

We no longer have to ‘hunt and gather’ our food like our ancient ancestors and it’s unlikely we will face times of famine anytime soon. Our bodies, however, don’t know this and will always store a little in the ‘fat bank’ in case food becomes scarce. We have become so lazy in our ‘hunting and gathering’ that we can dial a number and hot food can be delivered straight to our door. Most of us tend to eat when the clock tells us it’s time, and we sneak in a morning and afternoon tea break because we feel that we are deserving of some sort of treat to accompany a work break.

What we need to do is focus on our internal hunger cues. A feeling below the heart, deep within our belly. A growl or a grumble signalling it’s time to eat. When was the last time you felt that feeling? We need to keep in mind how far we push that hunger though, because if we push it too far we are at risk of slowing down our metabolism and becoming very ‘hangry’. Recognising and managing your internal hunger cues is a very important step in weight control.

Here are my tips for managing your ‘hanger’ and metabolism, but also tapping into the stored energy in your ‘fat bank’.

1 Eat 3 well balanced meals a day
This is non negotiable. Only snack when you are truly hungry. A morning and afternoon tea snack is not always necessary.

2 Start to recognise your false ‘head hunger’
Sparked by boredom, a smell, sight or stimulus that is not accompanied by ‘belly hunger’.

3 Delay eating
When you start to think about food, consume a tall glass of water and wait 30 minutes before tucking into a chocolate bar from the work ‘charity chocolate box’. If the 30 minutes passes and you’ve forgotten about food, you probably weren’t truly hungry in the first place!

4 Remember to eat!
If you are into watching the clock, remember that most people need to eat every five to six hours. Don’t leave it longer than that or your metabolic fire will start to slow down. If you are very active, your hunger will kick in sooner than those who spend most of their days at a desk. Be honest with yourself and focus on that feeling below the heart.

5 Eat well
Have some healthy snacks on hand that will get you through to your next nourishing meal. A small tub of yoghurt, a piece of fruit or a small handful of nuts should hit the spot.

Bottom line is, that a little bit of hunger is OK. I certainly don’t want you to get ‘hangry’ or feel faint… BUT, if you are one of those people who grazes all day long, if you rarely feel a growl in the belly or if you are struggling with your weight, you need to think about connecting with those internal hunger cues.

Ditch watching the clock or being tempted by unnecessary snacks and treats because you can see or smell them. Instead, eat three nourishing meals a day and snack only when your belly signals it’s time.

Lisa Donaldson APD
www.FEEDinc.com
4 Kennedy St, Kingston