Evening Grazing Dilema

kimses2

Looking for suggestions on how to keep occupied in the evening to prevent grazing through the cabinets. It's dark out early now, so I'm not inclined to walk although it's not out of the question.

amgreenwell

Walking would be a great solution if you have someone to walk with you for safety.
What about cleaning the house, deep cleaning the bathrooms or sweeping, mopping, vacuuming??
Are you eating enough at dinner??

kimses2

Oh my....cleaning doesn't really do it for me! But yes, I'm eating enough at dinner. I think it's part boredom and an ingrained habit.

queenliz99

kimses2 wrote: »

Oh my....cleaning doesn't really do it for me! But yes, I'm eating enough at dinner. I think it's part boredom and an ingrained habit.

Then don't. I like things like knitting, perusing the MFP boards or chewing gum. I don't go into the kitchen after I have cleaned the dishes and brushed my teeth. Or you could just climbed into bed and read a book.

Mamatano

Chew gum, it works for me

finnsgma

As soon as the kitchen is cleaned up from dinner, it is off limits to everyone in the house! My kids have water bottles they fill and take upstairs to their rooms. My kids are still young (8 and 10) so we go up and do shower/reading/bed routine, then I take my shower after they are on bed, then I settle in to watch TV or read. I have no reason to go downstairs until the morning (I have a TV in my room which really helps keep me away from the kitchen at night, plus I don;t eat in my room as a rule). Maybe just make it a "rule" that the kitchen is closed from 8pm-6am or whatever time frame works for your family.

kimses2

I'll try those things. I had a minor grazing episode last night at midnight watching TV.
So if I take my laptop upstairs with me (if I want to watch something) and a book and feed the cats early ...then right, no reason for me to be in the kitchen.
Oddly, when I travel and am in a hotel and don't have access to food, I don't have a problem with being hungry after dinner (I might have fruit that I carry from lunch). But when I'm home, I get hungry around 9. That is very telling if I'm honest with myself.

sfinsc

I also like the rules of just closing the kitchen. I log my calories on the MFP app, and once I hit "complete entry," that's it for me. I also make hot tea if I feel like I need to keep my mouth busy or my stomach doesn't feel full enough. Some nights I drink 2-3 cups (caffeine free, of course), but it's better than munching mindlessly. Actually, the grazing is a major reason I cut Netflix almost all the way out of my life. I find it nearly impossible to watch TV at night without eating.

ZeroDelta

kimses2 wrote: »

Looking for suggestions on how to keep occupied in the evening to prevent grazing through the cabinets. It's dark out early now, so I'm not inclined to walk although it's not out of the question.

if you don't buy the food, you can't graze on it.