The Hunger Level Scale

This is a handy tool to understand the ‘how’ part of an individuals intake. As someone that would be happy to eat every minute of every day, I found this helpful to distinguish between whether I was an obsessive foodie or a nourishing human. The Scale moves from 1 being the hungriest you have ever felt through to 10, which is a special place reserved for post-Christmas Dinner or Nan’s home cooking. The differences throughout, I explain below:

Hunger Level Scale Rating Physical Sensation

OVERLY HUNGRY ZONE

1

Starvation, need to eat now, hunger pains, shaky, light-headed – this is that feeling where your blood sugar has plummeted, you feel like you could faint. “Get the girl a carb, stat!” the Doctor screams.

2

Slight pain in the stomach, hard to concentrate, lacking energy.

It’s that moment you realise it’s 3:00 pm, and you haven’t even eaten breakfast. You wonder why you can’t recall anything that happened in your last meeting, and you’re deciding between the last remaining fingernail on your left hand or the tiny bits of skin on the edge of your index finger, at the side of where the nail used to be, while scurrying to the closest open shop… 7Eleven!

3

Beginning of physical signs of hunger, stomach growling sometimes. That feeling where your stomach is politely reminding you of its existence. It’s also letting you know that it probably won’t be too polite for much longer: “GIVE ME ATTENTION/FOOD.”

IDEAL ZONE

4

Hungry to Very Hungry – this is the polite time. You would make a suitable dinner guest, and so would your stomach. Bon Appetit!

5

Neutral – Switzerland; that point where, to be social, you could eat or have the homemade dessert on offer, but there is certainly no distinct need. No one is offended, no one is aggressive; neutral is a beautiful spot to be.

6

Satisfied – the content zone. To achieve this, we need technology away, good conversation, and a willingness to stop without the plate being finished! I know what you just read may shock you; we have all grown up in homes where you show respect for those who have provided the meal by finishing your plate! However, a little-known fact: our plates have enlarged, and our stomachs (before stretching) haven’t, so finishing the plate might be the completely wrong message to be sending.

7

Completely Satisfied – this is that point where you know you probably should have stopped a few mouthfuls earlier. You’re not as happy as you would have been if you had have finished earlier, but you know you have eaten and aren’t in a hurry to again.

FULL ZONE

8

Stomach sticks out – this is the start of the discomfort zone. You extended yourself a little, and you probably didn’t need dessert.

9

Bloated, clothes feel tight, sleepy and drained – the tryptophan coma has set in, and you need an Uber Select with the pillow in the back. Get me home now, and don’t worry about the tolls. Apologies for the snoring and burping on the trip, but if you don’t say anything, I promise a 5-star rating.

10

FULL!!!! Stomach uncomfortable, no energy, physically sick – 2 words: “Christmas lunch”, a unique effort where we have eaten until we just about burst away from the table. Discomfort, indigestion, heartburn – these are all on the cards for the afternoon, and Boxing Day leftovers are the thoughts of a nightmare (that is until lunchtime tomorrow). But right now, you can’t move; a waddle to the couch and a nap is about all we’re capable of for the foreseeable future.

So, when you next have a bite to eat, ask yourself: Where am I on the scale?

• The overly hungry zone: 1–3

• The ideal zone: 4–7

• The full zone: 8–10

Keep checking in as your meal progresses. You may find that "non-hungry" eating is a critical element of your intake and can tell us more about the "why" behind your current health status.