“Food noise” is that background chatter in your brain that won’t stop narrating your day like a snack-obsessed sports commentator.
It’s not regular hunger. Hunger is: “Hey, we need fuel.” Food noise is: “Hey… remember crackers exist? Also, what if we ate something just to be safe? Also, what if we ate something because we’re bored? Also, what if we ate something because you walked past the kitchen and the kitchen looked at you?”
Food noise shows up as nonstop thoughts about what you’ll eat next, whether you “should” eat, whether you “already ate,” and the classic: “I’m not hungry, but I could eat.” It can make normal decisions feel weirdly intense—like choosing lunch becomes a full committee meeting with multiple subcommittees (Salty, Sweet, Crunchy, and “Something With Cheese”).
It’s also sneaky: food noise doesn’t always mean you’re out of control—it often means your brain is stressed, under-slept, dieting too hard, eating too little protein/fiber, or you’ve trained your mind to treat food like the main source of comfort, entertainment, or “reward points.”
When food noise is low, food becomes… normal. You eat, you move on, and your brain stops acting like your stomach is a group chat that never mutes.