Updated June 01, 2014.
To prevent overeating, you need to think about what causes you to eat too much and then find ways to cope. Whether you allow yourself to become overly-hungry or you tend to eat in response to your emotions, these six tips will help prevent overeating.
- Curb your appetite before your meal: Drink a glass of ice cold water or enjoy a bowl of broth-based soup before main course -- liquid will give you a sense of fullness. Or, fill up with fiber by preceding your meal with an apple, raw vegetables or a salad with low-fat dressing.
More:5 Ways to Control Your Appetite
- Keep your blood sugar (and your appetite) at an even keel all day long by not going any longer than five hours without having something to eat. Consider eating multiple, healthy mini meals throughout the day rather than a few large ones.
- Eat a carbohydrate- and protein-comprised snack one to two hours before your meal (such as reduced-fat cheese and crackers or cereal with low-fat yogurt).
More:Guide to Healthy Snacks - Avoid overeating due to emotions by talking to a counselor or close friend, or keeping a journal. Or, log on to our message board to get support from others who are experiencing similar issues.
More:How to Deal with Emotional Eating - When you feel a binge coming on, exercise is a great way to elevate your mood and get your mind off food. Exercise also relieves stress, a common cause of overeating.
- When dining out, ask your server to package up half of your meal in a to-go container as soon as it is served. Chances are you won't open that container and eat the rest right away and you'll have an easy lunch tomorrow.
More:10 Ways to Control Portions