Food is everywhere, and it’s very easy to eat all day whether you’re grazing on food from the fridge or picking up a treat from the shop. But, does it ever feel like some days you just can’t stop eating?

You’re wolfing down your food

Eating too quickly can in fact cause you to eat more.

“This is partly because it takes time for your brain and body to register the eating experience and respond to signals of fullness and satisfaction,” says Annie Davies, clinical nutritionist at My Body Fabulous.

“When we eat very quickly or while distracted, you may be less aware of hunger and satiety cues, making it easier to continue eating before you recognise that you're comfortably satisfied.”

The best thing you can do is eat more slowly. This might mean placing your cutlery down between bites to create more time between mouthfuls and getting rid of distractions such as your phone or TV.

“Check in as you eat too. Ask yourself, ‘am I still hungry, or am I starting to feel comfortably satisfied?’,” says Annie.

You breakfast like a pauper, lunch like a prince and dine like a king

Eating too little in the morning, or skipping breakfast all together, might not always work in your favour.

“When we don't eat enough earlier in the day, hunger can gradually increase. As the time between meals gets longer, physiological hunger signals can become stronger, which may make it more difficult to recognise fullness and regulate how much we eat when we do have a meal,” says Annie.

This can leave you ravenous by lunch and eating far more than you would have done, if you'd had a decent sized breakfast.

Annie adds: “Our metabolism, hormones and appetite naturally follow a daily body clock, and there is some evidence that the body processes food differently earlier in the day compared with later at night. Where possible, having a relatively consistent eating pattern and getting most of our food during our active/daytime hours, rather than very late at night, may help support this natural rhythm.”

Try eggs and avocado on wholegrain or sourdough toast; Greek yogurt with oats, fruit and nuts; porridge with milk, berries and seeds. Check out our healthy breakfast recipes for inspiration.

It’s your time of the month

Female? Your appetite and food cravings may naturally change across your menstrual cycle, particularly during your luteal phase.

“This is the one to two weeks after ovulation (mid cycle) and before your period. Fluctuations in hormones, including oestrogen and progesterone during this phase, can influence appetite, energy, mood and also our preference towards certain foods.”

It’s tricky to suppress your hunger. Instead, Annie suggests being prepared and eating regular, smaller meals and snacks to avoid getting too hungry.

Focus on protein and fibre for fullness, healthy fats such as nuts, seeds, avocado and olive oil, to support your hormones, and iron-rich foods such as red meat, beans and dried fruit, to help fight fatigue.

Lucy Gornall

Published: September 4, 2026 at 10:46 AM