Our first tip, drink more water! I know that you hear this all the time and it will overlap with whatever lifestyle change you are hoping to achieve. Drinking more water will help your body feel fuller. But did you know, you can also get water from certain foods? Eating foods like cucumbers, celery, or grapes for a snack all have high water content, which can help leave you with that fuller feeling. Just a side note, if you want an extra step up, try freezing your grapes and eating them frozen!
Next up is eating snacks with high fiber. If you have the urge to snack, another good alternative is to consume foods that are high in fiber. These snacks will help fill you up without as many calories. These snacks have the added benefit of being slow to digest, so the full feeling will last longer. Some suggested fibrous foods are apples, hummus, avocado, oatmeal, or broccoli.
Another easy trick to eating less is to use a smaller size plate. Using plates that can help you with correct portion sizes can help your mind to know it's getting enough food. It will also force you to make the choice to go back for seconds. This will keep you aware of what you are eating. Along with smaller plates, it would be helpful to leave all serving dishes in the kitchen. Bringing the dishes to the table, containing all the leftovers, will encourage your body to go for one more helping or just a little extra. Leaving it in the kitchen, you are more likely to drink some extra water or just sit back and enjoy the conversation without overeating. You may want to even go as far as putting away the leftovers immediately after everyone has received their plates. Putting the extra food into storage containers makes it more difficult to go back for seconds.
Follow that mind trick up with this one. Clean up right away! Don't linger around the dinner table for a cup of coffee. When you have finished your meal, clean up your plate and anything left out in the kitchen. Activity after eating will help get your digestion system working. Also, if you clean up after you eat, you are less likely to continue eating.
Having trouble with portion sizes? There are several portion apps out there. Find the one that works for you to help you gauge portions correctly.
Remember, there is no magic button to make dieting and carvings disappear. Try the trick above and see if they help you eat less while you are at home. These tips and tricks have the added benefit of adding in weight loss. Give them and try and see what you think. Feel free to leave any comments or questions below!