Are you at the mercy of the bread basket whenever it comes your way? Here's a tip that will get you eating less of the wheaty treat.

Instead of slapping butter on your slice, dip it in a little bit of olive oil drizzled on a plate with a smidge of balsamic vinegar. People who opt for the oil instead of the spread eat less bread, studies show.

More on Olive Oil
Another bonus with this trick: The fats in the olive oil will help boost absorption of the nutrients in your meal. Plus, unsaturated fats, like the kind found in olive oil, help sate your appetite better than saturated fats do. A little at the beginning of a meal will help you eat less overall.

More Ways to Eat Less -- and Not Miss Anything!
Eating less sounds like deprivation. But it doesn’t have to be. You'll eat less -- and feel just as satisfied -- if you follow these tips:

• Load up on beans, nuts, apples, pears, and other fiber-rich foods. Here's why.
• Focus on the water content in your foods. Here's what we mean by that.
• Cure your portion distortion. Here's how.

Get a handle on your eating habits with this food questionnaire.