We've all been there.

We're bored, so we eat mindlessly. Or maybe it's not boredom. It could be indulging in sweet, salty, fatty, crunchy, and sweet foods just because it's there.

The bottom line is it's eating for reasons other than actual hunger.

This is called "head hunger" and is one of the leading causes of obesity in adults and children.

So here's an excellent way to differentiate head hunger from actual hunger. You can use this for yourself, or if you're a parent, for your young athlete.

As a parent, if your child is crying about being hungry, offer them a healthier option--an apple or banana per se. If they say "no" and still reach for chips or cookies, it's possibly "head hunger."

They need to be taught to recognize this. Head hunger leads to over-snacking and overeating foods that are detrimental to performance.

If young athletes want to differentiate themselves, it's not just about how hard they work on their sport but how they take care of their bodies all day (nutrition, sleep, and recovery).

And as an adult, ask yourself the same thing. When you think you're hungry, instead of reaching for the most convenient sweet or salty food, ask yourself, How does an apple sound right now? Or, am I hungry enough to eat some steamed vegetables? You quickly recognize that maybe you aren't as hungry as you think.

Learn to recognize real vs. head hunger. It could save you a lot of wasted calories detrimental to your body composition or performance.