Struggling to Break Your Mindless Munching Habit? Discover These Unusual, Expert-Backed Tricks to Rein In Overeating
If you often struggle with uncontrollable nibbling or habitual overeating, nutrition expert Zoha has outlined five surprisingly simple methods that can help rein in excessive munching.
Do you catch yourself grabbing snacks without a second thought or wrestling with those stubborn late-night dessert urges? Thoughtless eating can quietly pile on extra calories and eventually lead to weight gain—but a few intentional, clever routines can transform your relationship with food.
Zoha Zaheer, a clinical nutritionist and fat-loss specialist, revealed five unconventional yet powerful tactics she personally relies on to keep random snacking under control. In a video shared on Instagram on November 20, she highlighted a set of quirky but dependable practices—from chewing gum to hydrating before meals—that can dramatically reduce overeating.
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Chew gum to stop cravings
Zoha treats chewing gum as a secret weapon against excessive eating. “I keep gum in my bag like it’s armour. Finished eating? Sugar cravings creeping in? I pop a piece like it’s a red light,” she explains. Research from Healthline suggests that gum can suppress appetite, helping limit unnecessary food intake.
Store snacks out of easy reach
To minimise impulsive munching, she deliberately keeps her snacks in awkward, hard-to-access spots. This straightforward technique disrupts automatic cravings and naturally reduces overeating. As she puts it, “I place my snacks far away or somewhere inconvenient. It breaks the impulse. Out of sight really does mean out of mind. Simple. Harsh. Effective.”
Brush your teeth immediately after dinner
Giving your teeth a quick clean right after your evening meal can signal to your brain that eating time is officially over, making post-dinner sweet cravings far easier to resist. “I brush my teeth right after dinner so I don’t snack again,” Zoha notes. “It creates a mental shutdown—like the kitchen is closed.”
Learn to separate real hunger from emotional cravings
Zoha also relies on a mental check-in: “I ask myself, ‘Will this be worth the guilt later?’ or ‘Am I actually hungry, or is something else going on?’” Understanding the difference between genuine hunger and impulse-driven cravings can dramatically reduce unnecessary eating.
Drink water before each meal
A tall glass of water before you eat can boost your sense of fullness, making you less likely to overindulge. Zoha stresses, “I drink a big glass of water before every meal—it gives me a head start on feeling satisfied.”
Source: Araba Sey