Another reason delayed gratification is good for you

Delayed Gratification is a magazine dedicated to slow journalism—that is, analysis of news events that is delayed until after the dust has settled. The hope: Waiting will shed some of the unnecessary baggage that can accompany a breaking story, and cast a clearer light on the real news.

Turns out that delayed gratification can help shed more than misconceptions and reshape more than perceptions—it can help you shed pounds and reshape your body!

Research published in Preventive Medicine took a long, slow look at what influences your away-from-home eating. Researchers discovered that when you’re hungry, picking up a quick bite at a drive-thru (even though you know it’s bad for you) is hard to resist, if you’re the sort who favors immediate rewards. And that’s even though waiting provides much greater rewards: a slimmer you and a younger RealAge!

So the next time you’re hungry, dodge the fast-food solution with these tricks:

n Tamp down crazy hunger by getting vitamins and minerals your body craves: Take 1/2 a multivitamin morning and night (avoid mega-doses of nutrients).

Keep a bag of walnuts in your car, pocket or desk. Eating 12 halves provides enough healthy fat and calories to quell your hunger until you can prepare a healthy meal or find a restaurant that offers healthy choices.

Drink plenty of water. Being thirsty can make you think you’re hungry, which can drive you to the drive-thru. Plus, research shows that drinking 12 ounces of water before you eat means you’ll take in 75 to 90 fewer calories.

Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. To live your healthiest, tune into “The Dr. Oz Show” or visit www. sharecare.com.