In the Press: Understanding Hunger and Fullness Cues

Tampa Bay Parenting, Written by Samantha Toffoli, MS, RDN

What are hunger and fullness cues?

These are daily cues that serve as a way to evaluate when it’s time to eat and time to stop. Infants and young children are the best at determining their cues.

They might reach for food or cry as a sign to inform everyone, “It’s time for me to eat!”, or they will start to turn their head and reject any additional bites you serve them when they’re full.

As we age, we start to lose those “skills” related to hunger and fullness cues that we previously had as infants or toddlers due to hectic schedules, food advertisements or even predetermined lunch times.

How can listening to our hunger cues help us become more mindful around food?

When we don’t listen to our hunger and fullness cues, it can cause us to sometimes over- or under-eat. When we get too hungry, we tend to overeat.

Our body works extremely hard to make sure that we do not run out of energy, and it will start to crave foods that are guaranteed to give you loads of energy.

What about the “clean plate club,” or having children sit at the table until they finish all their food?

This can force children to eat past comfortable fullness levels. Many parents struggle with mealtime “battles” focused around finishing or not wasting food.

Though this is well-intended, allowing children and teens to eat when they are hungry and until they feel full is the best practice.

What are some tips to help children and teens recognize hunger and fullness cues?

• Check in before and after meals as a family to report hunger/fullness

• For older children, start to associate hunger/fullness with values 1-10

• Become aware of hunger/fullness cues in your own life to help model them to children