Most contests will require you to try to eat the largest amount of a certain food in a timed competition. This means you’ll need to train to eat a lot of food as quickly as you can. Other contests may just want you to eat their Mega-Hot spicy wings. Make sure it’s a contest you’re allowed to compete in. Some are reserved for “amateurs,” and they’ll bar professional eaters from competing. [1] X Research source This means that if you’ve already earned money from winning an eating contest, you won’t be allowed in. [2] X Research source

Dunking, which means that you “dunk” foods into liquids before putting them in your mouth. This makes solids easier to chew and swallow. Anything-goes eating, which allows you to do anything you want to eat food faster. Picnic-style eating, which means that you need to eat food how it’s meant to be eaten. You can’t dunk, mash food up into balls, or separate items that go together (a hotdog and a bun, for example).

For example, if you know your mouth gets dry when you eat lots of bread, stuffing buns in your mouth is going to be tough. Plan to address this in training, and strategize by sipping liquids with the breads.

Once you’re comfortable with water, graduate to soft foods like rice and quinoa. You can then do more difficult foods, like steak. Move slowly through this process, as you don’t want to choke. Never do this kind of training without another person present. If you do have a problem, you need to be able to get help quickly.

How much you need to eat depends on your size and competition. Some competitive eaters will eat several pounds of cooked or raw cabbage, for example, in a single sitting while in training. [8] X Research source High-fiber foods will make you feel fuller earlier, and you’ll stay full longer. This will make training with them more difficult than with other foods, because you’ll be fighting against that feeling of fullness. [9] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source You can also train with fruits like grapes and melons, as well as steamed mixed vegetables. While some competitive eaters also train by chugging gallons of water or milk in a single sitting, this could be dangerous for your health. Stick with the cabbage.

Remember to stick to the rules of the competition in all your training sessions.

This will help you anticipate any trouble spots with the meal. You should do this a minimum of one time, and a few more times if you feel like you need the extra preparation.

The actual meal sizes will depend on you and your typical portions. As a general rule, try doubling what you’d normally have. For the beginning of the week, consider eating a light breakfast and having the large meal at lunch. You can then eat a normally sized dinner. For the end of the week, have your large meals in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon.

Visit an all-you-can-eat salad bar and continue eating until you’re at the point of discomfort. You don’t want to go too far, however, and make yourself sick. This is the last real meal you should have before the contest.

For non-solid foods, try a protein shake or a yogurt. If your contest is in the late afternoon or evening, you can add some light solids to your breakfast, such as eggs or cereal. You may also want to exercise before the contest, as this could increase your hunger level. Don’t overdo it, as you don’t have a lot in your body to keep you going. Try a brisk walk or a light jog for 20 minutes.

If you need ideas for songs, look online for “music to keep you going during an eating contest. ” Music for workouts will also work well.

Only try this if you found that it worked for you in training.