An analysis of the determinants of the food intake is made on the basis of the personal experience of the author in attempting to control his own food intake. Hunger and appetite are distinguished as factors serving different functions in the food intake. Hunger is regarded as the desire to eat which impels one to seek food, try things as food or continue eating accepted foods until the desire to eat is inhibited or satisfied. Appetite is regarded as the factor that determines the acceptance (appreciation or rejection) of specific foods. Hunger was found to be of apparent central origin and based on needs but also influenced considerably by gastro-intestinal conditions. Hence it is suggested that a distinction be made between central hunger and gastro-intestinal hunger. Appetite is regarded as involving chiefly peripheral reactions, such as mouth-watering, to actual or imagined (learned) contact with foods and a distinction is made between a basal appetite determined by needs and an acquired appetite conditioned by the nature of some foods. The importance of innate factors rather than learning as determinants of the food intake is emphasized.