diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 018aeee..bb16117 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ set(SOURCES
     src/map.c
     src/common.c
     src/sound.c
+    src/difficulty.c
 )
 
 
diff --git a/include/difficulty.h b/include/difficulty.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2bbab35
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/difficulty.h
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#pragma once
+#include "config.h"
+
+//----------------------------------------------------------------
+// All functions/options regarding/affecting the difficulty level
+//  -> collected in one file for easy adjustment
+//----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+
+// set parameters for food placement by current difficulty level
+void difficulty_getFoodPlacementParam(float * minDist, float * maxDist);
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/difficulty.c b/src/difficulty.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b6979a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/difficulty.c
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+#include "difficulty.h"
+
+//----------------------------------------------------------------
+// All functions/options regarding/affecting the difficulty level
+//  -> collected in one file for easy adjustment
+//----------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+//======================================
+//== difficulty_getFoodPlacementParam ==
+//======================================
+// set parameters for food placement by current difficulty level
+void difficulty_getFoodPlacementParam(float *minDist, float *maxDist)
+{
+    switch (config.difficulty)
+    {
+    default:
+    case 0:
+    case 1: //EASY/default: always place far away
+        *minDist = 3.0; // new food has to be at least minDist blocks away from any object
+        *maxDist = 5.0; // new food has to be closer than maxDist to an object
+        break;
+    case 2: //MEDIUM: place next to OR further away
+        *minDist = 1.0;
+        *maxDist = 4.0;
+        break;
+    case 3: //HARD: always place next to block
+        *minDist = 1.0;
+        *maxDist = 1.0;
+        break;
+    }
+    return;
+}
diff --git a/src/food.c b/src/food.c
index 92c3060..3364273 100644
--- a/src/food.c
+++ b/src/food.c
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "common.h"
 #include "map.h"
 #include "game.h"
+#include "difficulty.h"
 
 
 
@@ -87,11 +88,11 @@ newValues:
 void placeFood()
 {
     //--- config ---
-    static const float minDist = 3; // new food has to be at least minDist blocks away from any object
-    float maxDist = 5; // new food has to be closer than maxDist to an object
+    float minDist; // new food has to be at least minDist blocks away from any object
+    float maxDist; // new food has to be closer than maxDist to an object
     static const int maxTries = 25; // each maxTries the limit maxDist get loosened (prevents deadlock)
-    // TODO calculate this range using configured difficulty level
-    // e.g. in hard difficulty the maxDist could be <2 so it is always placed close to a collision
+    // get food placement parameters according to difficulty (difficulty.c)
+    difficulty_getFoodPlacementParam(&minDist, &maxDist);
 
     //--- variables ---
     int foodX, foodY, triesMax = 0, triesMin;