If you struggle with eating mindlessly, here are my top ten tips to overcome and be victiorious in this area:

1. Don't Skip Meals or Snacks. When we deprive our bodies of the energy and nutrients they need throughout the day, we are much more likely to overeat, later in the day when we finally give our bodies much needed fuel. The other downside to not eating a lot during the day, and then eating a lot at night is that it can be very hard on our digestive systems to process all of the food we ate just before bed. We can also severely damage our metabolism in the long run when we put our bodies through this all too common feast and famine cycle. Depending on your bodies needs, and the calories you are getting with each meal and snack, I recommend eating 3 meals and 1-3 snacks per day, and/or eating every 2-4 hours.

2. Get Enough Sleep. When our bodies are sleep deprived, we tend to reach for sugar, caffeine, and simple carbohydrates in an effort to get our energy levels up. It is much easier to stay in tune to your bodies true hunger signals when we get at least 7 hours of sleep a night.

3. Eat Plenty of Protein and Fiber. Be sure you are getting plenty of protein and a good amount of fiber with each meal and snacks. Protein and fiber help you feel satisfied and keep your blood sugar levels stead, preventing sugar cravings, and overeating later in the day. Eating a balanced diet, with good sources of lean protein, lots of fruits, veggies, and whole grains, and a moderate amount of healthy fats will ensure that we don't feel deprived at the end of the day.

4. Stay Hydrated. Make sure you are getting plenty of water throughout the day. The part of our brain that signals thirst, also signals hunger, so it can be very easy to mistake the two. Sometimes we are simply dehydrated, but our brain signals make us think we are hungry. I personally like to fill up a big glass, and put some lemon juice, ice, and stevia in it- it tastes like sugar free lemonade, making it much easier to drink!

5. Remove Temptations. If you have certain food(s) that are hard to resist, don't buy it, and get rid of it. There are a few foods that I won't buy simply because I don't want the needless temptation of having them in the house.

6. Keep Healthy Snacks on Hand. When you are leaving your house, make sure you bring a healthy snack with you. That way, if you find yourself stuck in a traffic jam, or out longer than expected, you won't be overly hungry when it comes time for a meal. Also, if you are truly hungry at night, choose a healthy snack such as fruit (fresh or frozen), veggies and hummus, or a 1 minute single serve Dashing Dish dessert!

7. Stay Occupied. I believe one of the main reasons people tend to overeat in the evening is because it's the only time of day that they are not preoccupied with something, making it easier to reach for food out of boredom. If this sounds familiar, I recommend reading a good book, playing a game, or even taking an evening walk to keep you from mindless eating. Another tip would be to chew sugar free gum, or sip on some decaf coffee, herbal tea sweetened with stevia if you find yourself eating mindlessly.

8. Have a Set Shut Off Time. One of the problems of staying up late is that it causes you to feel hungry when your body should be sleeping. Make it a point to set a time when you shut down and go to bed. In order to go to sleep at a decent hour of the night, make an effort to cut down on caffeine throughout the day. If you must have coffee during the day, try to limit the amount after 3 pm. Even if you are not tired, going to bed and spending time doing something relaxing will help you unwind, and keep you out of the kitchen, where it can be easier to make poor choices late at night.

9. Be Present at Meal Times. Often times we can get so busy that we are not truly 'present' when we are eating our nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day. If we make an effort to sit down and truly enjoy our meals, we will be less likely to feel deprived later on in the day.

10. Strengthen Your Spiritual Muscles. Sometimes what we think is hunger is truly not physical hunger at all...but rather it is something much deeper, resulting in emotional eating. In those cases I personally have found that there are three powerful weapons to combat emotional eating: Spend time with the Lord, Praise and Worship, and Pray the Word of God! I also love to go on walks, listen to worship music, and just spend time with the Lord. He always promises to draw near to us when we draw near to Him. He is able to strengthen, encourage, and steady our hearts better than we ever could on our own.

I believe that the very best place to start when it comes to overcoming any 'bad' habit in the area of nutrition is to start to see yourself as an overcomer! If you truly start to believe that you can become healthy and balanced in all things, it will just be a matter of time before your actions and behaviors line up with how you see yourself on the inside. I pray these tips bless and encourage you on your journey to health!