So our family had our first Christmas Party this weekend. There was a lot of great food and people, and it was nice, even though it was cold and rainy. Husbando had two whole plates of food, and then dessert.  But then, about an hour after we got home, he was snacky again. What's the deal!?

If you find you're always hungry again right after you eat, you can relax . . . you probably don't have a tapeworm.  The real explanation could be one of these eight things, which are all a lot easier to fix.

1.  You drink too much soda.  The high-fructose corn syrup in sodas can suppress the hormones that tell your body when you've had enough to eat.  Compared to regular sugar, drinks high in fructose make you feel more hungry.

2.  You're eating canned food.  Canned foods often have a lot of BPA, a chemical that can cause hormonal imbalances that lead to food cravings.

3.  You had a small breakfast.  A long-term study showed that people who ate 300 calories or less at breakfast gained more weight than people who ate 500 calories or more.  The people eating small breakfasts would get hungrier throughout the day.

4.  You're not eating enough salad.  Leafy green vegetables are high in folate and vitamin K, both of which help control your appetite in different ways.  Folate protects against depression and fatigue, and vitamin K regulates insulin.

5.  You're not drinking tea.  Black tea has chemicals that fight food cravings, and make you feel full for a longer period after eating.

6.  You're not drinking enough water.  Dehydration often feels like hunger.  Try drinking a glass of water before you eat, and see whether your appetite goes away.

7.  You're bored.  Australian scientists found that visual distractions can help fight food cravings.  If you get hungry when you shouldn't be, try watching TV or going outside.

8.  You're eating cold cereal.  One study found that oatmeal left people feeling fuller than the same sized bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios.  It could be because the oatmeal is thicker, or because it has more oat fiber than most ready-to-eat cereals.

Are you guilty of any of these habits?  What do you do to make yourself a little less snacky between meals?

Eatingly yours,
Behka

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