It's not hunger, it's just food noise and here's how to silence it

It often starts with a harmless piece of chocolate or a slice of pizza in the middle of the night — that midnight craving we all joke about. Sometimes it’s a fizzy drink, a handful of chips, or something savoury like samosa or jhalmuri with evening tea. Are you really hungry at that moment? Maybe. But more often than not, the answer is no.

What we mistake for hunger is usually a craving — a psychological urge to eat that has little to do with the body’s actual need for energy. Understanding the difference between hunger and cravings can help you make mindful food choices and improve your relationship with food.

WHAT IS TRUE HUNGER?

Hunger is one of the body’s most fundamental biological signals. It’s a complex interaction between enzymes, hormones, and brain pathways that alert us when