My Tummy is Growling with Hunger… But I Am Not Hungry
My Tummy is Growling with Hunger… But I Am Not Hungry
There’s a big, mouth-watering, steaming plate of biryani in front of me. You know the kind — fragrant rice layered with chicken, mutton, or beef, a golden potato hiding like buried treasure, and a side of salad that nobody really cares about but still politely takes a scoop of.
And yet… I am not hungry.
Yes, I hear my tummy making a sound that could rival a broken motorcycle engine, but no, dear reader, my appetite refuses to RSVP. Two spoons, maybe three if the potato looks offended, and I’m done. And no — before you ask — I’m not expecting.
When Hunger and Appetite Stop Talking to Each Other
This is where things get funny (and a little tragic). We assume hunger and appetite are best friends. One growls, the other pounces on food. But actually? They’re like siblings who only text each other on holidays.
Hunger is your body politely saying, “Excuse me, I need fuel.”
Appetite is your brain saying, “Excuse me, I need entertainment.”
That’s why you can feel hungry while staring blankly at biryani, pushing it around like a painter with no muse. Or feel “not hungry” but somehow demolish an entire tub of ice cream while binge-watching Netflix.
The Truth We Rarely Reflect Upon
We eat with our emotions, not just our stomachs. Stress, boredom, heartbreak — they all get a seat at the dining table. Sometimes they even eat before we do.
The body is not always in sync with the brain. Tummy growls can be hunger, sure… but sometimes it’s just gas auditioning for a percussion band.
Cultural rituals trap us into eating. In South Asia, refusing food is like declaring war on the host. In Italy, “Mangia, mangia!” is practically law. In Japan, leaving food untouched feels like breaking a haiku. But sometimes, you simply don’t want it — and that should be okay.
The Comical Truth
Let’s be honest: sometimes food is like a Bollywood hero who looks amazing in the trailer but flops on screen. Other times, our stomach and brain run on different operating systems:
Stomach: “Error 404: Real Hunger Not Found.”
Brain: “But look at that biryani sparkle under the light! Post it on Instagram before it dies cold.”
So, What Do We Do Next?
Instead of guilt-tripping ourselves or force-feeding like geese in foie gras production, here’s what actually helps:
Listen to your body, not the social pressure. If you’re not hungry, that’s okay. Auntie Shazia will recover.
Check the why. Am I hungry, or just tired? Am I thirsty, or just scrolling? Sometimes water or a nap works better than food.
Practice the “One Bite Rule.” Taste it, respect the chef’s effort, and if the soul isn’t feeling it, stop.
Normalize saying no. Across cultures, refusing food politely should not equal insult. It should equal self-awareness.
Final Bite
Our growling tummy isn’t always a reliable narrator. Sometimes it’s hunger, sometimes boredom, sometimes just an inner drama queen. What matters isn’t whether you eat two spoons or the whole plate of biryani — it’s whether you listened to your body, not just tradition, pressure, or habit.
As an African proverb says: “The stomach does not listen to the advice of the mouth.”
And maybe next time, your appetite will stop ghosting your hunger.
Food and Culture
Humor
Mindful Eating
Health and Wellness
Psychology of Eating
Satire
Global Perspectives
Biryani
Comments
Post a Comment