You could crush that 3 p.m. cookie craving just by chewing a little of this: gum.

That's right. A study found that chewing gum can really put the kibosh on your afternoon appetite in a big way.

Countering the Snack Attack
People who chew either sweetened or sugar-free gum after lunch feel full longer, have fewer hunger pangs, have fewer cravings for sweets, and eat fewer afternoon snacks -- compared with people who don't chew gum. (Check out this additional tasty way to eat less, not more.)

Tickled Taste Buds Signal "Full"
How does chomping gum suppress hunger? It's simple. When you eat, your taste buds are stimulated by the food. But the cool thing is that exposure to the tastes and smells of food also lessens how good it tastes. That, in turn, is one of the cues that signal your brain that you're full, so cravings go away. Chewing gum may have this same effect -- but without all the calories! (Discover why skipping meals increases cravings for the wrong foods.)

Mindful Consumption
You can make the gum trick work even better by thinking about how many snacks you've eaten. Then, try these other tips for better snack management:

• Don't snack in front of the computer. Here's why.
• Discover your emotional snacking triggers. Here's how to find them.
• Grab a tall drink of water before every snack. Here's what you might discover.