I've noticed this interesting phenomenon in couple of people in my life. They've both gotten wider from the waist, which doesn't bother me as such, but it is a health hazard and they have both asked me for tips in dieting. When I start to talk about it and ask what they eat, they both claim to eat healthy foods. Yet, when I observe them, they pretty much hoover all the food around them constantly. If it's there, they'll eat it, even though they said before that they're not hungry or don't need anything. I'm not sure if they're aware of what they're doing.
I feel a bit conflicted, because I don't want to be pointing out to someone that "OK, you're eating again", because it can come out as a shaming thing and that's not what I mean. I also don't want to deny them food, because I love to cook for people. They don't live with me, so it's not just my cooking, though I do take responsibility for enabling them once in a while.
I've tried to say things like "count all the calories you're eating for at least couple of weeks", but they don't want to do that. Or at least the other one doesn't (I don't think I've offered that piece of advice to the other one yet).
I'm sure there are some people here who've lived like that, eating and snacking almost compulsively without even noticing how much and what kind of foods they're eating. What made you realize what you were doing and were you able to stop?
They also both assume that they're eating healthy foods like Greek yogurt, "just a little piece" of dark chocolate and a lot of fruit and vegetables. I've seen them eat those, so it's true, but I've also seen them eat a lot of other things. Also, both of them prefer vegetables over meat (with the other one being pescetarian), and they've both criticized me for eating too much meat and fat. Ironically, eating meat and fat has stopped my cravings and if I don't feel like eating, I don't eat, but I understand that they don't want to go down that road.
Perhaps they should just prepare some veggies and a dip (which I know the other one does) and snack on those, but I honestly don't think it's a good idea to just eat mindlessly, regardless of what it is that you're eating. That's just my opinion though, and I would love to hear differing opinions, just to understand.