Eating solid foods rather than drinking liquids can also help you feel fuller, experts say.

"Beverages high in water do not last as long in the stomach as solid foods," says Campbell. "Hunger will not be reduced as much with a liquid as with a solid, so if you are choosing between a meal replacement drink or a meal replacement bar, go for the bar for greater satiety."

Eat Mindfully to Feel Fuller

When your stomach is stretched from food, it sends a signal to the brain that you have had enough to eat. But that signal doesn't always get through -- especially when the dessert cart rolls around.

To help stay in tune with your body's signals, experts say, it helps to slow down and eliminate distractions while you're eating.

"Eat slowly and mindfully, do not engage in multitasking -- reading emails, watching television - concentrate on your meal," suggests Blatner.

She recommends taking half an hour to finish your meal.

"To prolong the meal, you can chew slowly, put your fork down between bites, use chopsticks or your non-dominant hand, but my favorite is to simply take smaller forkfuls," she says.

Add These Foods to Your Diet to Curb Hunger

So how do you put this hunger-fighting power to work? In a nutshell, experts say, adding more of these foods to your diet can help curb hunger and help you feel fuller on fewer calories:

• Soups, stews, cooked whole grains, and beans
• Fruits and vegetables
• Lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs
• Whole grains, like popcorn

And here are some easy strategies for working those hunger-fighting foods in your diet:

• Add shredded or chopped vegetables to pasta and egg dishes, main-dish salads, and other mixed dishes, and use them to top pizzas.
• Eat whole fruits instead of fruit juices or dried fruits.
• Use a blender to whip air into fruit drinks, smoothies, or sauces.
• Choose whole-grain puffed cereals, popcorn, breads, cereals, and pasta.
• Enjoy vegetable salads or broth-based soups before meals.
• Top entree salads with lean meats, poultry, eggs, tofu, beans, nuts, or fish.
• Add fruit to salads or enjoy as dessert.
• Add beans to stews, soups, egg dishes, and casseroles.
• Have lean protein or low-fat dairy at all meals and snacks.

Published September 18, 2007.

SOURCES: Wayne Campbell, PhD, professor of nutrition, Purdue University. Barbara Rolls, PhD, Guthrie Chair of Nutritional Sciences, Penn State University; author, The Volumetrics Eating Plan and The Volumetrics Weight-Control Plan. Dawn Jackson Blatner, MS, RD, spokeswoman, American Dietetic Association. Nikhil V. Dhurandhar, PhD, associate professor, department of infection and obesity, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University. Consumer Reports, June 2007; pp 12-17.

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