Discouraged

Shyla57

Ok now I need some help I need something to snack at night I have this bad habit where I want cookies or other bad stuff. I know you not suppose to eat during the night but is there something I can try since I can't stop.

xxerniexx

A protein shake could help, find a flavor that reminds you of a treat, mine is cookies and cream from Dymatize, i like it.

PaperDoll_

I eat Greek Yogurt at night if I'm hungry or fruit if I'm wanting something sweet.

I'm not sure why you're not supposed to eat at night though? I don't think the time of day matters.

chrisahubbard

Drinking water regularly helps.

Shyla57

I drink lots of water just abad habit of getting up and eating. This is why I ask need to find something not fattening

serindipte

I save some of my calories for a late snack and there's nothing wrong with a couple of cookies. A whole sleeve, not good but a couple is fine if it fits in your calories.

Shyla57

Um yes it effects me I need something healthier. It actually been putting weight on me

Shyla57

I wondering is stevia fattening I don't use much just for coffee or if I have some alcohol drinks

emmamcgarity

If you are needing something salty, I like the SmartPop 100 calorie bags of microwave popcorn. If you are needing something sweet, maybe some fresh fruit? I try to save some calories for the end of the day to allow me snacks. The keys is portion control. I measure out the amount of calories I plan to use and then leave the kitchen so that I am not surrounded by other temptations.

DX2JX2

There's nothing wrong with eating at night whether it be cookies or anything else. The only thing you need to think about is keeping those snacks within your calorie target.

Even though I'm not in loss phase any more I still like cottage cheese with jelly for my night time snack. It scratches the itch for something sweet at a pretty low calorie load.

Also, you might want to consider cookie thins (or thin cookies). Lots of brands have versions of them but I like Anna's Swedish thins (gingerbread or almond). Something like 25 calories per cookie and one or two will satisfy your cookie craving.

deb43060

Quest peanut butter cookies are my go to snack. They are 250 calories but packed with protein (15g), only 2 g sugar, 9g fiber, and taste delicious. I also second the people saying to drink more water during the day. Our nutritionist suggests 1/2 your body weight in ounces. I'm still working on that one - it's hard! Don't give up.

CarvedTones

Sometimes I roll forward a late night snack - I log it as a snack on the next day. But you have to be disciplined enough to really absorb it into the next day, giving up a mid morning snack or having a little less at one or more meals. This is an answer for an occasional urge, not a nightly habit.

kgirlhart

Snacking at night only makes you gain weight if it puts you in a calorie surplus. I usually save about 200 calories for a snack after dinner. There is nothing wrong with eating cookies if they fit in your calorie goal.

try2again

Shyla57 wrote: »

I drink lots of water just abad habit of getting up and eating. This is why I ask need to find something not fattening

If you feel it's a bad habit (and I would just because I value my sleep), why are you looking for a different way of going about it? Have you tried eating a more substantial snack before bedtime that will keep you from wanting to get up at night?

BZAH10

try2again wrote: »

Shyla57 wrote: »

I drink lots of water just abad habit of getting up and eating. This is why I ask need to find something not fattening

If you feel it's a bad habit (and I would just because I value my sleep), why are you looking for a different way of going about it? Have you tried eating a more substantial snack before bedtime that will keep you from wanting to get up at night?

This. If it's a habit and not actual hunger, substituting other food isn't going to help. Bad habits can be broken.

juliamfu161

I find that chewing gum or brushing your teeth helps. I usually do this right after dinner, or if I'm planning to have dessert, I do it right after that. That way I won't be tempted to have the lingering taste in my mouth to have more than I should.

nowine4me

OP - do you mean a bedtime snack, or you are waking up in the middle of the night and eating?

Shyla57

Waking up and eating but I been doing it for years so not easy to break but now I putting on too much lol from the cookies.

fiddletime

Getting up in the middle of the night to eat cookies? That’s a different story. I guess you’ve tried just not getting up? Maybe have a 60 Cal Sunshine fruit pop sickle or an 80 cal fudgesickle? Just one tho. Hard to eat just one cookie though.

CSARdiver

You've developed a "bad" habit that is inhibiting a larger goal. ....and this is not hunger, but appetite. You need to replace this "bad" habit with a good one. Build a routine where you read, drink tea, anything else but late night snacking.

There's nothing wrong with the timing of meals, but it sounds like this is inhibiting sleep as well, which is critical to health.

sofchak

I would say until you can control the habit of getting up in the middle of the night to snack, don’t buy any of the foods you would snack on late at night - or put those snacks somewhere very inconvenient to get to at night like your car (I’ve personally done this!).

If this isn’t possible, perhaps try putting healthier snack options in front of the higher calorie options on the shelf or in the fridge. I keep a lot of veggies around in easy access so I tend to grab those before I would usually make the effort to grab oatmeal or other higher calorie goodie from the top shelf (that requires a step stool to reach). Doesn’t always work, but the extra effort at least makes me more mindful of what I’m doing.

Lastly, the only other option I can think of would be portion control and plan for it. Prepackage your cookies or other snack of choice into single serve portions. Then make room in your daily calorie goal for a single serving portion if you need it.

Good luck!