3 Types of Hunger

Sometimes we’re physically hungry. Other times, we’re craving something or looking for comfort or stress relief. And sometimes it’s a combination.

But they can all feel like the same thing: “I WANT FOOD!!"

Learning to tell them apart can help you understand what you’re experiencing and what you might need.

I like to think about hunger using a simple three-part framework:

stomach, mind, and heart.

Each represents a different reason we might want to eat, and sometimes they overlap.

Your body needs food.

This is physical hunger — things like an empty stomach, lower energy, or simply feeling ready to eat.

Your brain wants food.

Maybe you saw it, smelled it, started thinking about it, or eating at that moment has become a habit.

Your heart seeks

comfort from food

When we're stressed, sad, lonely, bored, or upset, food can offer comfort and a sense of safety, pleasure and connection.

"Is this coming from my stomach, my mind, or my heart?"

Because once you understand why you want to eat, you have more choice in what happens next.

In this video, I walk through the three types of hunger and how recognizing what’s behind the urge to eat can help you make more intentional choices.