Whether your stress stems from anxiety regarding your children attending school in person, concern about getting sick as we spend more time indoors this fall, the ongoing fight for social justice or a not-so-distant US presidential election, it all makes sense that we're stressed. Uncertainty is not a favorite human emotion.
Food can be comforting, and there is nothing wrong with that, experts say. Sometimes you might turn to food intentionally, as it can be soothing. Other times, you might be craving something other than food but find yourself impulsively reaching for sweets or mindlessly nibbling on chips. At mealtimes, you may simply wish to figure out what it is you want to eat based on how you are feeling.
That's where the hunger meter -- a tool to help create space between you and the fridge or kitchen cabinet -- can come in handy. By taking a sacred pause and asking yourself where you are on the hunger meter, you can increase your awareness, which can allow you to make an informed decision about eating. And it can be especially helpful if impulsive or stress-related eating has become more frequent.
"The hunger meter is one of our most helpful tools for getting back to what the body already knows how to do, in case you've found yourself off path and off in the weeds a bit during this stressful time," said Signe Darpinian, a certified eating disorders specialist and the coauthor of "No Weigh! A Teen's Guide to Body Image, Food, and Emotional Wisdom."
"There is a lot of collective anxiety at this time, which can lend itself to more emotional eating, which makes perfect sense," Darpinian said via email. "But feeding a body that's not asking to be fed on a regular basis can lead to preoccupation and more emotional headspace than what is ideal."
Instead, when you create a pause to become aware of what you are doing, that awareness in and of itself is a very powerful motivator for change if you realize a particular behavior no longer serves you, explained Wendy Sterling, registered dietitian and coauthor of "How to Nourish Your Child Through an Eating Disorder" and Darpinian's co-author on "No Weigh!"
How the hunger meter works
"When you feel a pull toward food, create space between you and the food to see where you are on the hunger meter," Darpinian said.
Here are what the numbers on the hunger meter equate to:
1 = Starving, ravenous, dizzy, cranky, can't think clearly, low blood sugar
2 = Very hungry, rumbling stomach
3 = Manageable hunger; a happy place where you want to arrive at mealtime; calm and mindful about eating
4 = You could eat, but you're not that hungry; snacky
5 = You've probably just eaten, and aren't hungry
6 = The dreamy stopping place; your stomach feels happy and at peace, it's not overly stuffed
7 = Your taste buds lose interest much beyond this point
8 = You are on the path toward full and feel anchored by your food
9 = Thanksgiving day stuffed
10 = Uh oh. Time to unbutton
The key is to match your fuel to your hunger level. For example, if you are a "4," you might need a small snac
