HONOR YOUR

HUNGER
Intuitive Eating: Principle 2

Riley Smith
Dietetic intern
Illinois State University
 WHAT IS
HUNGER?

A biological cue to signal the need for

cellular energy
 TYPES OF HUNGER

taste hunger practical hunger emotional hunger

the desire to eat simply because planning ahead; eating outside of the desire to quench
something sounds good or hunger due to external events uncomfortable feelings; can
because the occasion calls for it that would inhibit eating when sometimes resemble primal
hungry hunger
 HUNGER
SENSATIONS

g
sh

lin
ow
ak

gr
in

h
ac
es

om
s

st
lightheaded thoughts about food

sa
liv
ue

at
tig

in
g
fa

concentrating
irritability
difficulty
 Body Attunement Body Trust
Ability to perceive bodily sensations Relationship between mind and body

thirst hydrate
urge to urinate use the restroom
stress coping skills
sleepiness sleep/rest
WHY MIGHT
HUNGER BE
SILENCED?

Numbing
Dieting
Chaos
Skipping meals
SELF CARE TO
PROMOTE BODY
ATTUNEMENT
"When you are in the throes of stress,
the fight-or-flight system is activated;
blood flow is diverted away from
digestive system-resulting in a lack of
hunger cues"
- Evelyn Tribole, Intuitive Eating
What do you do for self-care?
 NOURISHMENT
SELF-CARE PLAN
Sometimes, you cant rely on hunger cues to adequately nourish
you might feel full before meal plan compliance
You can use rational thought to make decisions on when to
nourish as a form of self-care
Reaching out for help
Showing up to treatment
Eating consistently throughout the day
Following meal plan

 create your own hunger scale to

PUT IT INTO PRACTICE

start practicing attunement and
building body trust