From what I've gone through, I'd say the "desire to eat" is more a social and psychological conditioning and its a tyrannical bully of a force that overwhelms even one's better judgement.
I am certain you're right that this can be a big part of it, but i also believe there is an element of healthy desire to begin to get excited about fresh live organic juices and fresh organic vegetable broths.
I wish there were an easier way to keep it in check. I've also read that the less toxic you are, the less you crave... i don't find that to be so :(
I believe this too. I think in my case "desire to eat" was pretty quiet until i got really close to 30 days at which point i know i had my permission to break so eating became a very real possibility. Now that i have passed the 30 days, hopefully i can put the emotional desire to rest once again.
How do you deal with your desire to eat versus the lack of physical hunger?
In spite of having zero physical hunger, it is a highly exciting prospect to begin to "eat" and i know it would feel amazing to do so. Though physical hunger is dormant, in my case that doesn't mean that nutriment would make me feel sick or otherwise lousy... to the contrary i think it would make me feel amazing and i feel quite ready.
... nevertheless, i really want to hold back for as long as i can to achieve all of the additional benefits possible as i move deeper and deeper into this fast. The excitement of eating can wait :).