“Listen to your body; eat when hungry,
stop when full and satisfied.”

• Frequently people who eat bananas will state that their body must be low on
potassium because they are craving bananas. Bananas do have some potassium.

• Frequently (not just around Valentines day) people will say that even while they know intellectually that chocolate candies, because of the high fat and high sugar content, are not very good for their health, there is nothing that they can do about it. Their body is craving chocolate. (What does their body need now?)

• Eat many little meals throughout the day. Just listen to your body, and it will tell you when to eat.

Recommendation: Although the “listen to your body” advice sounds like a great idea, the reality is that humans usually cannot distinguish between true hunger and just appetite. Eating many little meals (grazing) can easily result in obesity, because the feeling that one is listening to is usually one of wanting to eat rather than needing to eat.

Hunger: Body needs food.

Appetite: Body wants food.

Solution: Have a plan (written down) based on three meals: (breakfast, lunch, and dinner.)