A smart decision-maker plans ahead

3 p.m. snackers, take heart: Preparing your indulgences in advance is a research-backed strategy for keeping your cravings in check.

. In a series of field studies surveying real office environments, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University found that employees who decided on their lunch orders in the morning consumed five percent fewer calories than their colleagues who made their choices in the moment.

By planning your lunch or snack time menu ahead of time — and planning something nutritious yet delicious — you’ll get to eat what you want… and your brain will benefit, too.