“The order in which you consume your meals can help impact post-meal satiety, which in turn may help to reduce cravings by managing blood sugar,” says Stephanie Baker, in-house nutritionist at Purolabs.

Beginning your meal with carbohydrates can cause your blood glucose levels to shoot up – leading to a rapid increase in your insulin response. Glucose is absorbed especially quickly from starchy foods (even more so on an empty stomach) and that can leave you feeling hungry again not too long after eating.

Conversely, Baker adds that eating more glucose-rich foods first puts you at risk of being full before you reach the protein element of your meal. “You may find that you eat only some of the protein on your plate and that your hunger returns before your next meal, leading to snacking and, in turn, bloating and indigestion.”

Still having gut health issues? It might not be which foods you’re eating but the order you’re eating them in