“How much should I eat?”

“How much should I eat?” is a question I’m asked frequently.

“How hungry are you, on a scale from 1 to 10?” is my most frequent answer.

If you’re at a 10, you’re ravenously hungry.

A 1 would be completely full, overstuffed, as if you’ve just finished Thanksgiving dinner.

A 5 = neutral.

If you’re at a 5, you don’t need to eat.

So, just because it’s 6:00, there are cookies on the counter, or you’re bored, well, those potential reasons to eat are not actual hunger.

If you’re at a 9 or a 10, you probably waited too long, and then you will probably overeat.

If you’re at a 7 or an 8, go for it.

Until you’re full on a scale from 1 to 10 to another 7 or 8, of course.