Tips and tricks for cutting back on snacks

vinbar1

I chew gum. It helps to chew spearmint because nothing really taste good after chewing it.

Agathokakological

vinbar1 wrote: »

I chew gum. It helps to chew spearmint because nothing really taste good after chewing it.

When I would crave more food before I was ready for bed I'd brush my teeth early for the same reason.

SLLRunner

Elisabuffy19 wrote: »

I know there is no magic behind counting calories...but I am having a hard time cutting back on snacks. It has become habitual at certain times of the day, even if I am not hungry. I am breastfeeding, so do feel hungry a lot and I know I need to eat around 1800 calories and not go too low. That being said, i would love to hear any mental strategies for cutting back habitual eating, larger portions and especially afternoon snacking. My diary is open. :-). Thanks!

I love my snacks. Any way to work them into your calorie goals?

SLLRunner

Spiderkeys wrote: »

I think it this way, snacking it only a temporary fix, it's only going to eliminate your cravings for a few hours, just think ahead before you grab that chocolate bar, at the end of the week would you rather be 3 pounds heavier or would you rather see other results instead?

You don't gain weight that fast. Snacking is just fine if it fits in your calorie goals.

SLLRunner

DeguelloTex wrote: »

Log what you are going to eat. Don't eat what you haven't logged.

For me, knowing I've planned for a snack makes it taste just that much better.

This.

Machka9

Elisabuffy19 wrote: »

Thanks all! I have always purchased cookies and chips but maybe I'll try not having them in the house. :-).

It certainly helps! Don't buy anything that is going to put you over your calorie limits. Instead stock up on things which are low cal.

Elisabuffy19

sw6709 wrote: »

Elisabuffy19 wrote: »

I know there is no magic behind counting calories...but I am having a hard time cutting back on snacks. It has become habitual at certain times of the day, even if I am not hungry. I am breastfeeding, so do feel hungry a lot and I know I need to eat around 1800 calories and not go too low. That being said, i would love to hear any mental strategies for cutting back habitual eating, larger portions and especially afternoon snacking. My diary is open. :-). Thanks!

I am also breastfeeding my LO, in the beginning I was CONSTANTLY snacking. I wasn't particularly hungry but I always had my head in the snack cupboard or in the fridge. I planned out my days calories the night before to include 2-3 snacks. I ensured my (planned) snacks were healthy (nuts, seeds, crackers, cheese, yogurt with berries, nut butters) but I still wanted to snack. It wasn't until I increased my calories by an extra 200-300 a day that the cravings for snacks went away. Like I said I wasn't really hungy, but my cravings was my body telling me I wasn't eating enough. I added more oils/ nuts/ calorie dense foods as I was already feeling full to get in those extra calories.

That is interesting. Maybe i need to be eating more at meals and more heartily. Thanks

barbecuesauce

New snacks. Buy some fruits and vegetables you wouldn't normally eat. If you choose to buy junk food, split it up into servings when you're not hungry and keep it in a container, out of sight. I have found that my willpower seems to ebb and flow--if you're having a hard time with it right now, don't buy it. (Or buy one or two snack bags at the checkout.) You won't always be unable to be around your favorite junk foods.

SherryTeach

You have to figure out what works for you. For me, I have my diary set up for breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, evening snack. Yes, I'm a snacker and it works for me, even when I was doing 1200 calories. My main snacks: banana (morning snack nearly every day), string cheese, boiled egg, a grapefruit with Spenda, 14 grams of walnuts, peanuts, or almonds, air-popped popcorn, frozen fruit bar, etc. I eat a square of dark chocolate nearly every night as my final snack, sometimes broken up into 1/2 cup of Quaker Oat Squares.

MelodyandBarbells

Hi Sherry, does the Splenda really sweeten up the grapefruit nicely? Don't laugh but I accidentally bought a bag of grapefruit instead of oranges some months back. Still in my fridge and I presume still edible! But I really just can't bring myself to eat them - too bitter!

Orphia

Sometimes when you think your stomach is growling from hunger, it's actually gurgling from digesting. I've been more aware of that lately.

Elisabuffy19

I think I might build in my snacks. Yesterday I built in a pre-dinner raw veggie snack with a tbsp of ranch dressing and it really helped me make it until dinner without picking at my daughter's food or grabbing crackers. Thanks for all the wonderful input!