late night snacking

[Beantowngurl]

What tips do you have to avoid snacking at bedtime?  I live alone and sometimes I just want a snack!!

[sketchdoll]

I'm terrible at snacking after dinner. Especially if I'm sitting in front of a tv screen! The thing I've learned to do is get rid of those "easy" junk foods for snacking. Chips, cookies, etc.  I find if I don't have what I'm craving in the house, then I am not going to go leave and buy it.  You could try stocking up on healthier more convienent foods. Cut veggies if you like those, or fruit (just don't load up on too much sugar!)  One thing that is relatively healthy is air-popped popcorn. If you aren't grain-free, then that might be an option. It's pretty good drizzled with either olive oil, coconut oil, or grassfed butter. I love mine with sea salt and cracked pepper ❤️ But make sure it isn't the microwave kind, it's full of bad fats and who-knows-what-kinds of chemicals. 

For me, I love a small mug of cereal with almond milk.  It always seems to hit the spot. My favorite is the Cinnamon Chex (I'm obsessed with anything cinnamon).  Other people have mentioned just drinking a hot cup of tea helps too.  I think if you know you are a snacker, then alot some calories for just that-snacks! It also helps if you can find something that has some protein and healthy fat with it though. That way you could stay feeling fuller longer.

[OCDOC]

My favorite evening snack..I budget for it, eat it slowly, and am done...appetite satisfied for the night! 🙂

255 cal, carbs 5net/3total, fat22, prot7

A year ago I would demolish cookies, crackers, or cereal..way more than 255...way way more..  😞

Just a suggestion 🙂  R

PS I toast the pecans for a few minutes..

[SMO2015 · Accepted solution]

Hello,

I completely sympathize.  After years of trying to find ways of cutting late night snacking out of my life, I plan for it, with the idea that I know I will go out for one last night-time walk with my dog and husband, or even on the treadmill.  By doing this, it's a nice way to wind down and feel less guilty about the snacking.  I also try to eat healthy snacks (veggies) or something I know I won't eat a lot of (dill pickles), but this does not always work.  Good luck!

[emili · Accepted solution]

I budget for popcorn every night in my calorie allowance. 9PM, me, my popcorn and the DVR- heaven.

Whatever you choose to snack on veggies, cereal, popcorn- its added calories so if you are trying to lose weight, you have to count them in your allowance.

[Ukase · Accepted solution]

To avoid snacking: 

It would be easy to say "Don't snack". 

Ultimately, sometimes, there's something that our minds tell us that leads to bad results. If you do need to lose weight - there is no biological reason to snack - unless perhaps you have low blood sugar. 

My guess is, this tendency, if it's like mine, is born from habit, not from hunger. 

You could - go to bed earlier. Good luck with that. 

But - I've found that a quick walk or a set of push-ups will get my brain to release dopamine - which is really what the snack induces anyway. It's a lot more effective, too. Instead of taking in the calories, I burn a few. 

We are all mostly creatures of habit. We must break that cycle if we're going to win the battle of the bulge. 

Your evening routine, after supper - what is it? If it involves more than an hour of tv - you're not setting yourself up for long term success. I do know it's tough. I know there are other things we could do - but we're usually pretty mentally wiped from the day. Lounging in front of the tv is about all most of us are good for after work. 

Just try - for 5 minutes tonight to go outside and walk around the house. That's all. Just a walk around the house, looking at the grass, the trees, that stupid squirrel who couldn't make up his mind to go left or right. This is a step in breaking the tv habit, just this short little stroll. You're not doing it for the physical exercise, but for the mental exercise. 

Tomorrow, you'll do the same thing. 

Next week - maybe you'll walk around the block - not for physical, but for mental stimulation. 

It's not our bodies that need the work, it's our brains! If we can find things that are interesting, amusing that don't involve being stationary, that's a lot of the battle won. The diet is the rest of it. 

Eating at night - if you must - stick to items that are high in protein and low in fat and carbs. And by protein - not whey - but casein is best for overnight. I suggest Greek Yogurt if you must snack. That protein will slowly metabolize as you sleep, giving your muscles and other tissues an adequate supply for repair/regeneration. 

If it's carbs or fats - what will your body do with that? Store it as fat. 

[OCDOC · Accepted solution]

@Ukase

Excellent post!

Timing is good...last night I got the knawing at about 10pm...2 hrs after my 'usual' evening snack. I walked for 45 mins which made me feel better and got my steps over 10K (rah), but when I lay down I STILL had the knawing...ugh.

I decided to try another dopamine/serotonin agent...it worked like a charm. Actually felt FULL in about 20 minutes, and slept easily. 2 squares of 90% Lindt..120 cals total! Just another suggestion 🙂  R

http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/chocolate-dopamine-3660.html