Amid busy lives, we are constantly reminded of the importance of being "mindful" – fully aware and paying attention to what is happening in the present moment. Of course, that makes a whole lot of sense, but among work, Facebook, mobile phones and Instagram, who can maintain that level of attention? However difficult this goal might seem, eating mindfully is important. Research published in the eating behaviour journal Appetite has repeatedly shown that mindful eating practices result in a slower rate of eating, which sees us consume significantly fewer calories while increasing our enjoyment of the meal.

It is mindless eating that gets many of us in trouble with our weight – the extra biscuit here; glass of wine there; a few spoons of the children's leftovers and before you know it, the jeans are getting tight. That is unless you are in touch with your "choice point" – a psychological term coined almost 100 years ago by renowned behavioural psychologist Dr Edward Tolman.

Think before you bite: Mindful eating may be key to controlling your weight.

Put simply, our choice point is the brief interlude between thought and action that allows us to make a different or better choices. In the case of mindless eating, one of the key skills to help you take control of your food intake is the ability to differentiate the sweeping-thought action that sees us grab and gulp at food and drink without taking any time to consider the choices we are unconsciously making. Here the choice point is the brief moment of time in which we could reflect on what we are about to do, then slow down and even adjust our choice of action. In this instance, we are then able to take control of habitual behaviours and instead make informed decisions. This can make a big difference to our calorie intake long term.