I’m hungry.

These days, Beau is always hungry (photo courtesy of Paola Muela).

That’s it. Those are the two words. Sid and I hear that short sentence expressed multiple times to us every single day by our 5-year-old. Sometimes it is drawn out in a whiny tone, sometimes it is confidently said in a matter-of-fact way, and other times it is said almost as an afterthought.

But no matter how it is expressed, these days we take it with some skepticism. Beau is fed three meals per day and he is given a snack in the morning and afternoon. Trust us, he is well-fed. This leads me to believe that his constant declarations of hunger are likely out of habit, boredom, or the thrill of eating something that tastes good despite having a full stomach.

Sometimes these declarations of hunger can become nagging. If it isn’t time to eat, Sid and I have struggled to determine the best way to tell him so. After a lot of deliberation, I have started telling him and Sloan the same thing:

It’s good to be a little hungry.

Of course the phrase packs a metaphorical punch. In life, it is good to be hungry. Many people attain success because they were “hungry” to do great things and thrive. That “edge” made all the difference.

I believe that “edge” exists in the literal sense as well. In high school, one of our coaches always cautioned us about eating too much prior to a competition. He constantly reminded us that “a hungry tiger hunts best.” When your belly isn’t full and you have a slight yearning/craving, it makes you motivated and alert. When you are full, you become sluggish and content. 

Beau might only be 5 but I want him to become at least acquainted with what it feels like to delay gratification. Although the time of craving can be tough to deal with, the breaking of the fast is always worth it. Food tastes better when you truly are hungry.

And then there is the health perspective as well. “Eating on call” or (even worse) eating when bored doesn’t turn out well. You overeat and your appreciation of food lessens. Sometimes it is simply best to embrace a little hunger, at least in the very “first-world” way that we do.

Do you have any better responses or practices to tell a boy who constantly suggests that he is hungry? I will just sit here and eat a donut while I wait 😉. Don’t Blink.