# What makes food filling?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-food-filling/333979>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 4, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-food-filling/333979 "2005-12-04T03:09:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-food-filling/333979/1 "2005-12-04T03:09:42Z")

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Millions,  
I was just having a discussion with my roommate about the Monte Cristo, the sandwich of the Gods. Imagine ham, turkey, and melted swiss between two pieces of egg soaked challah, topped with jam and powdered sugar. Bliss, my friends. But obviously, a veritable gut-bomb. My question is, why?

What attributes of a certain food make it filling? Is it the amount of calories? The sheer mass? Volume? Density? For the record, and for my sake while answering, assume I remember very little from I learned in science back in my salad days.

So, yeah. What makes food filling? Specifically?

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**Author:** ![meara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@meara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meara)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2005, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-food-filling/333979/2 "2005-12-04T18:46:35Z")

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I’m not a scientist/dietician, but I’m pretty sure that “filling” foods have relatively high levels of fat, protein and complex carbohydrates (pasta, grains, etc.), and relatively low levels of sugar (fruit juice, sweets, etc.). I’m not sure how fiber plays into it.

It may be as simple as how long it takes your body to digest it. Anyone know?

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**Author:** ![ms.deanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@ms.deanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ms.deanna)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2005, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-food-filling/333979/3 "2005-12-04T19:03:05Z")

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I’m not sure either,but I know that when I eat a bowl of oatmeal (fiber), Iget pretty full. When I eat a cheeseburger or 2 pieces of pizza, I also feel full. But I could prob ably cram another piece of pizza in my face because it tastes so good. Maybe it involves some brain signals, as well.

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**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2005, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-food-filling/333979/4 "2005-12-05T16:53:44Z")

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Part of the conversation that my OP stemmed from also involved the Whopper. IIRC, the whopper has something like 400,000 calories , yet, never manages to really fill me up. And I’m pretty scrawny to boot. So, I doubt it’s calories. But, hey, that’s why you ask. Perhaps this bright Monday will yield genius elsewhere.