The present-day concepts of organizing the physiologic system of food consumption control at different stages of ontogenesis of the premature born mammals are discussed with an element of criticism. The "alimentary center" notion as a multilevel system of the perceptive neurons lost its original significance and needs improvement. An idea of hypothalamic alimentary centers also needs revision to match the recent detection of many brain structures which are associated with the development of hunger and repletion states. There is no strong evidence of a direct involvement of central reception of metabolic products in an immediate control of the alimentary behavior. The hunger and repletion theories each only in part explain the physiologic basis of these states. The alimentary behavior is an integrated process not coming to a consummatory act. It relates to a complex interaction of afferent and efferent systems which are different at various stages of ontogenesis. In an early period of life the regulation of alimentary behavior depends mainly on the sensory signals and only gradually it incorporates the metabolic canal of signalling. A delay in the repletion mechanisms provides the optimal conditions for the growth and development of organism. The formation of alimentary stereotypes on the basis of specific and nonspecific factors is described. Regulation of different aspects of alimentary behavior depends finally on their relation to the state of brain systems of reward and punishment.