“Today We’re Gonna Talk about Hunger”

“Welcome back, everyone!” called Bracha. “Today we’re gonna talk about hunger.”

“Ugh, I never get hungry,” Leah groaned. “I just eat because I know I have to.”

“Ha!” Chaya answered, “I’m always hungry and until a couple weeks ago, nothing made me satisfied.”

“Okay, so we have opposite extremes going on here.” Bracha laughed. “Hunger is a sign that our body needs to eat. It alerts us with subtle cues when we start running low on energy, but if we miss them, or ignore them, we’ll get those big alarms! Picking up on the quieter signals can help us start eating earlier and stop eating earlier too, so we don’t feel super-stuffed. What are your feelings of hunger?”

“Well, obviously a grumbling stomach, and like after a fast, I’ll feel like a gnawing emptiness,” said Chaya.

Shoshana looked pensive. “Sometimes I’ll get a headache, or feel dizzy when lunch is late. Is that a hunger sign?”

“Yes,” answered Bracha. “All of those, along with moodiness and irritability are at the extreme ends of hunger. The more subtle signs include thinking about food, a slight emptiness, and even just feeling ready to eat.”

“Okay, but what if you’re ‘ready to eat’ but it’s really that you’re just bored?” asked Shoshana.

“Great question, Shoshana!” Bracha answered. “Sometimes it is a real physical hunger and we should eat, but other times it’s actually emotional eating. I have a question for you.” Bracha paused and looked at the group. “Is eating a good way to solve problems?”

In unison, they shook their heads.