Yesterday I spent the entire day with one of my favorite people who just happens to be 18 months old. What a life philosophy this little person has - one to be emulated for sure. When she is hungry she grazes her way through fruit and veggies and whole grains and lean protein. When she is full she recognizes it and simply starts throwing food on the floor. Then it's on to the action. Her little legs and arms are non stop movement as they seek out things to lift and bang and move and topple. Or pour from one receptacle to another. She is quite a reader going through several books an hour or the same book seven hundred and forty three times in a row. Outside there are dogs to point at and grass to touch, sky to marvel at and deck chairs to rearrange. There are sidewalk cracks to be investigated, passing cars to watch, mail men and school busses to wave at.  Although she refused my interview questions, I'm guessing that she is so fascinated with the world around her that she is not thinking about food until her stomach begins to send hunger alerts to her brain. That translates either in to a bit of crankiness which any experienced-with-toddler-behavior adult can interpret as hunger - or she simply pulls on the refrigerator or cupboard handle and makes the sign (yes, she baby-signs) for More!
I would love to be free of the thought of food unless and until my stomach signaled hunger. Perhaps that is the secret. Every time my brain says, 'Feed me,' I could ask my stomach if it sent any emails to my brain. If the answer is no, then it's back to playing and wondering at the world. If the answer from the stomach is 'yes, I did indicate in my last email that I am indeed hungry' than I can graze my way through the good stuff till my stomach sends an 'i'm done' email at which time I shall throw the rest of the food on the floor and resume playing. Works for me.