Ever sit down at the computer with a family-size bag of chips, only to find it nearly empty by the time you log off?

There's a scientific reason for it. Normally, if you eat the same food for a period of time, your palate gets "tired." You feel full sooner and don't want as much. This is known as sensory-specific satiety. But get distracted -- by reading the latest celebrity gossip, catching up on e-mail, or playing computer games -- and this appetite-control mechanism gets turned off.

Your palate is primed for variety. Ever notice how there's always room for dessert, even when you're stuffed? The greater the variety of food, the more you're likely to eat. The opposite is also true: Take away variety and you feel fuller sooner. It's a trick you can use to your advantage. According to the RealAge Docs, you're less likely to overeat -- and more likely to lose weight -- if you eat the same thing for at least one of your meals, day in and day out. Aim for overall variety within a weeklong period, not with each meal.

In a study, women who ate snack cakes while playing a video game wanted to eat more of the food -- not less -- compared to the women who ate without any distraction. The game players also had a greater desire to snack on other available munchies, and their desire to eat lingered after the study ended.

So do your best not to watch TV, spend time on the computer, read, or otherwise distract yourself when eating. You'll be satisfied with less and feel fuller sooner. And focusing on eating might help prolong the time between meals.

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