Being fit and losing weight take dedication and focus.  Consistently eating healthy foods in healthy proportions is crucial to any program, and coming up with strategies to help you with the mental aspect of eating right can be the difference between success and failure.

Here’s a little practice to implement if you have trouble with snacking too much between meals or munching on second helpings. After each meal, brush your teeth, floss, or use mouthwash.  The ritual acts as a marker for the end of a meal, and the minty flavor act as a reminder to wait before your next meal.  If you want to get more specific, wait one hour after using mouthwash, two hours after brushing your teeth, and three after flossing.

Travel size toothpaste, mouthwash, and floss are conveniently stowed in purses or glove boxes.  Travel toothbrushes can be found for a dollar or two at many drugstores, but if you want to add spunk to your routine, then snatch up one of  these fun Brookstone vibrating portable toothbrushes for $14.95 (below).  They’re about the size of a tube of mascara, have replaceable heads and batteries, and come in many different colors and designs.  

No matter how you choose to use these minty reminders, the important thing is to stay disciplined and follow through with your plan.  Though it may seem onerous in the beginning, before long, you’ll have trained yourself into eating healthier proportions and staying away from excessive snacking.