The locus cerulius releases epinephrine and has a lot of different functions. It creates alertness (can be experienced as stress, anxiety, excitement) while approaching food and activated the lateral hypothalamus to inhibit feeding. As we eat the mechanisms for calmness kick in, which is often impacted by the signals from the vagal nerve. People... See more

As you approach eating, there is an anxiety related to it. The lateral hypothalamus controls feeding.