diff --git a/src/Arts.cs b/src/Arts.cs
index 8750544..3d56c4c 100644
--- a/src/Arts.cs
+++ b/src/Arts.cs
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ static class Arts
 
         // snake
         float snake_t = headmove.state ? Maths.u_clamp(Maths.smooth_stop((float)Mono.step_t) * 3.0f) : 1.0f;
-        bool food_next = !Mono.eaten_latch && (Mono.snake[0] + Mono.snake_dir) == Mono.food;
+        bool food_next = !Mono.eaten_latch.state && (Mono.snake[0] + Mono.snake_dir) == Mono.food;
         if (!food_next)
         {
             meshes["Tongue"].Draw(
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ static class Arts
                 10 * Time.Stepf
             );
         }
-        if (!Mono.eaten_latch)
+        if (!Mono.eaten_latch.state)
         {
             meshes["Food"].Draw(
                 mat_mono,
diff --git a/src/Mono.cs b/src/Mono.cs
index 0d3182a..9828181 100644
--- a/src/Mono.cs
+++ b/src/Mono.cs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ static class Mono
     public static DeltaBool in_box = new(true);
     public static Dictionary<XYZi, XYZi> holes = new();
     public static XYZi food = new(2, 0, 0); // [!] start random to keep new game fresh?
-    public static bool eaten_latch = false;
+    public static DeltaBool eaten_latch = new(false);
     public static double eat_timestamp = 0.0;
 
     public enum BoxMode
@@ -181,11 +181,11 @@ static class Mono
         }
 
         // eat
-        if (!eaten_latch)
+        if (!eaten_latch.state)
         {
-            if (food == snake[0])
+            eaten_latch.Step(food == snake[0]);
+            if (eaten_latch.delta == +1)
             {
-                eaten_latch = true;
                 eat_timestamp = Time.Total;
                 grow_buffer += 3;
 
@@ -193,10 +193,10 @@ static class Mono
             }
         } else {
             (bool viable, XYZi cell) = Feed();
-            if (viable)
+            eaten_latch.Step(!viable);
+            if (eaten_latch.delta == -1)
             {
                 food = cell;
-                eaten_latch = false;
             }
         }
     }