Snacks for the evening

sfbaumgarten

I typically eat the same snackage every night- 20g Special K cracker chips, a Laughing Cow cheese wedge, 2 pieces of Whoppers mini eggs, and some sort of alcoholic beverage (light beer or liquor w/diet soda). That precise little combo settles any cravings for something salty, sweet, delicious cheesiness, and booze without breaking the calorie bank. Also, I'm a creature of habit.

hoop0372

My go to's are:

1.) Popcorn-I have a stove top popcorn maker
2.) Green olives-I'll just have a few if I'm really craving something salty
3.) Whole grain pretzel twists-there's 8 in a serving
4.) Kale Chips-so good!
5.) Sugar free candy or Dark chocolate-for the sweet tooth

You can also take canned garbanzo beans (drain and rinse them), spread them out on a cookie sheet, drizzle with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil (or whatever oil you prefer),then season them with garlic, salt & cayenne pepper and roast them in the oven at 400 degrees, stirring occassionally, until they get crispy. YUM!

km180

I often brew a cup of Crio Bru on nights when I want something to eat but don't have any calories remaining. I love Crio Bru. It is simply roasted cocoa beans that are ground up and brewed like coffee. It is not sweet like hot chocolate, very different from that; more bitter like coffee. It has a fantastic chocolate aroma. It is only 20 calories for a 12 oz serving, full of antioxidants and very soothing. Sometimes I'll eat a banana with it. The sweetness of the banana mixed with the chocolate flavor of the Crio Bru is an excellent combination.

soldierofgod713

I have lowfat frozen vanilla yogurt, with a tablespoon of low fat PB and a teaspoon of honey, soo good!

ejsherms

I legitimately enjoy all the healthy suggestions from mandarins to assorted veggies. But the best defense against my unhealthy night snacking is not having the temptation in the pantry. It is easier to pick up the veggies when there are no unhealthy choices to distract.

seltzermint555

I honestly do not crave snacks much after dinner which is funny to me, because I DO crave snacks during the afternoon. But if I have excess calories at the end of the day I try to end with protein whenever possible such as a boiled egg, string cheese, or nuts.

jfauci

Depends on what I am craving. Usually I have a weight watchers ice cream cup. If I am looking for something crunchy, I usually tun to Boom Chicka Pop - at only 35 calories/cup!!

Brandolin11

This is such a handy thread - there are about 200 awesome snack suggestions in here!

I'd like to bump this discussion in a completely different direction for one moment.... And if someone else already said this forgive me, there are four pages to this thread and I just couldn't read it all!

For those folks who have difficulty with controlling themselves after dinner, I have good news for you!! And that is: There is NOTHING wrong with you and you should feel absolutely fine about eating that time of day! This just so happens to be the time of day you specifically crave most of your calories and there's NOTHING wrong with that.

The trick? Is to learn to work WITH it, not to simply try to hang on by your fingernails.

My advice: stop fighting yourself and instead come up with a plan and strategy to leave yourself lots of good calories for that time of day, then eat eat eat w/out guilt!

There are many ways to do this: eating less calories earlier in the day is the most obvious strategy, but how does one do that and not starve? Well, you'll have to be very deliberate in your food choices - picking meals and snacks that are filling and satiating but lower in cals. Things high in fiber, protein, calcium, and most importantly, volume. Maybe eat a lighter dinner. Then decide how many calories you can eat a night, have your arsenal of healthy but tasty after-dinner snacks ready in your fridge/pantry, and have at it.

Problem: solved.

JohnnyBravo64

This is such a handy thread - there are about 200 awesome snack suggestions in here!

I'd like to bump this discussion in a completely different direction for one moment.... And if someone else already said this forgive me, there are four pages to this thread and I just couldn't read it all!

For those folks who have difficulty with controlling themselves after dinner, I have good news for you!! And that is: There is NOTHING wrong with you and you should feel absolutely fine about eating that time of day! This just so happens to be the time of day you specifically crave most of your calories and there's NOTHING wrong with that.

The trick? Is to learn to work WITH it, not to simply try to hang on by your fingernails.

My advice: stop fighting yourself and instead come up with a plan and strategy to leave yourself lots of good calories for that time of day, then eat eat eat w/out guilt!

There are many ways to do this: eating less calories earlier in the day is the most obvious strategy, but how does one do that and not starve? Well, you'll have to be very deliberate in your food choices - picking meals and snacks that are filling and satiating but lower in cals. Things high in fiber, protein, calcium, and most importantly, volume. Maybe eat a lighter dinner. Then decide how many calories you can eat a night, have your arsenal of healthy but tasty after-dinner snacks ready in your fridge/pantry, and have at it.

Problem: solved.

Ok but my wife says Dr. Oz recommends the bulk of the calories be eaten before 3-4pm when the metabolism is still cranking away. So I'm not sure...I mean he is a doctor (tv)...lol

Phoenix_Warrior

If calories allow I like to have two pieces of toast with 1 serving of natural peanut butter.

It's warm. It's filling. It's protein. And it's YUM!

Haha....PB is fat. You're kidding yourself if you think it's a protein!

I'm not sure one can just simplify everything and dismiss others opinions. This forum can be used to help and motivate people or used to tear people down. I personally appreciate the positive responses and advice.

Completely agree. Who cares if it's protein or not? It's beside the subject. I like positivity also.

I care if it's protein or not when someone specifically writes that it's protein. Misinforming someone isn't helpful.
Peanut butter has the same carbs per serve as protein, but you don't see anyone eating it because it's a carb, do you?

I eat ice cream for an evening snack because it helps me hit my fat, carbs and a little bit of protein. Does that make me bad? oh, I also eat it because it's delicious.

FoxyLifter

This is such a handy thread - there are about 200 awesome snack suggestions in here!

I'd like to bump this discussion in a completely different direction for one moment.... And if someone else already said this forgive me, there are four pages to this thread and I just couldn't read it all!

For those folks who have difficulty with controlling themselves after dinner, I have good news for you!! And that is: There is NOTHING wrong with you and you should feel absolutely fine about eating that time of day! This just so happens to be the time of day you specifically crave most of your calories and there's NOTHING wrong with that.

The trick? Is to learn to work WITH it, not to simply try to hang on by your fingernails.

My advice: stop fighting yourself and instead come up with a plan and strategy to leave yourself lots of good calories for that time of day, then eat eat eat w/out guilt!

There are many ways to do this: eating less calories earlier in the day is the most obvious strategy, but how does one do that and not starve? Well, you'll have to be very deliberate in your food choices - picking meals and snacks that are filling and satiating but lower in cals. Things high in fiber, protein, calcium, and most importantly, volume. Maybe eat a lighter dinner. Then decide how many calories you can eat a night, have your arsenal of healthy but tasty after-dinner snacks ready in your fridge/pantry, and have at it.

Problem: solved.

Ok but my wife says Dr. Oz recommends the bulk of the calories be eaten before 3-4pm when the metabolism is still cranking away. So I'm not sure...I mean he is a doctor (tv)...lol

Meal timing is a myth. Just plan an evening snack and stay within your calories. That strategy has been working for me.

Brandolin11

This is such a handy thread - there are about 200 awesome snack suggestions in here!

I'd like to bump this discussion in a completely different direction for one moment.... And if someone else already said this forgive me, there are four pages to this thread and I just couldn't read it all!

For those folks who have difficulty with controlling themselves after dinner, I have good news for you!! And that is: There is NOTHING wrong with you and you should feel absolutely fine about eating that time of day! This just so happens to be the time of day you specifically crave most of your calories and there's NOTHING wrong with that.

The trick? Is to learn to work WITH it, not to simply try to hang on by your fingernails.

My advice: stop fighting yourself and instead come up with a plan and strategy to leave yourself lots of good calories for that time of day, then eat eat eat w/out guilt!

There are many ways to do this: eating less calories earlier in the day is the most obvious strategy, but how does one do that and not starve? Well, you'll have to be very deliberate in your food choices - picking meals and snacks that are filling and satiating but lower in cals. Things high in fiber, protein, calcium, and most importantly, volume. Maybe eat a lighter dinner. Then decide how many calories you can eat a night, have your arsenal of healthy but tasty after-dinner snacks ready in your fridge/pantry, and have at it.

Problem: solved.

Ok but my wife says Dr. Oz recommends the bulk of the calories be eaten before 3-4pm when the metabolism is still cranking away. So I'm not sure...I mean he is a doctor (tv)...lol

Meal timing is a myth. Just plan an evening snack and stay within your calories. That strategy has been working for me.

I agree w/beatlegirl.

No disrespect to Doc Oz, but you gotta do what's going to keep you SANE.

And keep in mind - I'm not saying you should eat 1,000 calories right before bed! LOL Nor am I saying you don't need to fuel that fire at relatively spaced-out intervals during the day. I think the point is that we all need to figure out what times of day are most difficult for us, when we most want those calories, then work *with* that timing.

For example, I eat a 200-225 calorie smoothie around 8:30-9am - I keep it very light. Then between 11am and about 3pm I tend to get crazy-craving-ravenous hungry - not because I didn't eat enough earlier, it is literally just the time of day I get a little nuts. So I plan about a 250-300 cal meal for 11am (or a little earlier, depending how I'm feeling) and then about a 500-600 meal around 2pm. Do people at work ask me every fricking day "oh, eating a late lunch are you"? Yeah, they do, and I tell them everyday - "nope, this is just the time I eat, like I do every day". It's so out of the norm people can't handle it. But I do it because that's what works for ME. Interestingly, I don't get hungry again until about 7:30pm. Whereas, in the morning/early afternoon I can't make it from 8am to 2pm without 3 meals, I can go almost the same amount of time again in the late afternoon/evening without anything (except, literally, maybe a couple tsp of peanut butter to tide me over). It's just my way. After my 7:30-8pm meal (which is usually about 500-600 cals), I'm pretty much done for the day. I might have about 100-150 cals of snackies before bed but that's it.

People who know me well think I'm nuts because they have been trained to think you eat breakfast early in the morning, lunch at noon, dinner at 6pm, and a little snack before bed. I don't know where that mentality came from, but I say that we should go ahead and bust that stereotype and do whatever it takes to help ourselves succeed. Your metabolism will take care of itself.

GingerLolita

I always plan an evening snack because I always crave something sweet after dinner. I love fresh fruit. Lately, I've been having sweet cereal, like cinnamon chex, with strawberries or banana slices, in unsweetened almond milk. If I have some more calories and I want something filling, I opt for a bowl of old fashioned rolled oats made with unsweetened vanilla almond milk, stir in some chocolate chips, peanut butter, or chocolate-hazelnut butter, and top with cinnamon, nuts, and/or fruit. I also like apples, bananas, baby carrots, cucumbers, or bell peppers with peanut butter. Feel free to check out the Dessert section of my diary for ideas!

Ashleydadiva

I'm a heavy snacker as well as a feigned for textures and crunch, I use to achieve this by eating every sweet in the cabinet! Now I mix fruit and nuts or trail mix with chocolate pieces into my Vanilla Greek Yogurt yum! Keeps my teeth and taste buds busy...

sue_langley

I was the same. I ate most of my calories after 7 pm. So I bought a preowned (craigslist) semi-recumbent bike and have it in front of the tv. I'm still sitting watching tv, and riding it definitely releases happy hormones and I don't feel like snacking it seems. Before I realize it I've been riding for an hour. My body is shaping up very quickly now.

CubicalF13

I usually go for a bowl of dried fruits like prunes or apricots 50g plus 20g of almond peanuts unsalted with some water. Or eat chopped up fruits like apples, pears or mango as they appear to be in season now.

Our fruit markets seem to be getting alot of them lately, big size fruits almost 400g size bananas have been appearing since the start of December. Otherwise if all else fails, 1 slice of wholemeal bread +margarine, bbq sauce and tuna(69g) or a boiled sausage with water or a cup of warm milk from microwave, fills me up nicely.

JohnnyBravo64

This is such a handy thread - there are about 200 awesome snack suggestions in here!

I'd like to bump this discussion in a completely different direction for one moment.... And if someone else already said this forgive me, there are four pages to this thread and I just couldn't read it all!

For those folks who have difficulty with controlling themselves after dinner, I have good news for you!! And that is: There is NOTHING wrong with you and you should feel absolutely fine about eating that time of day! This just so happens to be the time of day you specifically crave most of your calories and there's NOTHING wrong with that.

The trick? Is to learn to work WITH it, not to simply try to hang on by your fingernails.

My advice: stop fighting yourself and instead come up with a plan and strategy to leave yourself lots of good calories for that time of day, then eat eat eat w/out guilt!

There are many ways to do this: eating less calories earlier in the day is the most obvious strategy, but how does one do that and not starve? Well, you'll have to be very deliberate in your food choices - picking meals and snacks that are filling and satiating but lower in cals. Things high in fiber, protein, calcium, and most importantly, volume. Maybe eat a lighter dinner. Then decide how many calories you can eat a night, have your arsenal of healthy but tasty after-dinner snacks ready in your fridge/pantry, and have at it.

Problem: solved.

Ok but my wife says Dr. Oz recommends the bulk of the calories be eaten before 3-4pm when the metabolism is still cranking away. So I'm not sure...I mean he is a doctor (tv)...lol

Meal timing is a myth. Just plan an evening snack and stay within your calories. That strategy has been working for me.

I agree w/beatlegirl.

No disrespect to Doc Oz, but you gotta do what's going to keep you SANE.

And keep in mind - I'm not saying you should eat 1,000 calories right before bed! LOL Nor am I saying you don't need to fuel that fire at relatively spaced-out intervals during the day. I think the point is that we all need to figure out what times of day are most difficult for us, when we most want those calories, then work *with* that timing.

For example, I eat a 200-225 calorie smoothie around 8:30-9am - I keep it very light. Then between 11am and about 3pm I tend to get crazy-craving-ravenous hungry - not because I didn't eat enough earlier, it is literally just the time of day I get a little nuts. So I plan about a 250-300 cal meal for 11am (or a little earlier, depending how I'm feeling) and then about a 500-600 meal around 2pm. Do people at work ask me every fricking day "oh, eating a late lunch are you"? Yeah, they do, and I tell them everyday - "nope, this is just the time I eat, like I do every day". It's so out of the norm people can't handle it. But I do it because that's what works for ME. Interestingly, I don't get hungry again until about 7:30pm. Whereas, in the morning/early afternoon I can't make it from 8am to 2pm without 3 meals, I can go almost the same amount of time again in the late afternoon/evening without anything (except, literally, maybe a couple tsp of peanut butter to tide me over). It's just my way. After my 7:30-8pm meal (which is usually about 500-600 cals), I'm pretty much done for the day. I might have about 100-150 cals of snackies before bed but that's it.

People who know me well think I'm nuts because they have been trained to think you eat breakfast early in the morning, lunch at noon, dinner at 6pm, and a little snack before bed. I don't know where that mentality came from, but I say that we should go ahead and bust that stereotype and do whatever it takes to help ourselves succeed. Your metabolism will take care of itself.

I like your thinking. I must say I'm one of those old timers that eat at 6am, snack at 9:30, lunch around noon, snack again at 3, dinner at 5ish, and finish up with a 7pm snack. The problem for me was the quality of food consumed and of course portion control. I've dropped almost 10 lbs in the first 20 days of this new diet (1700/day). Evenings are my weak times so I added another walk on the treadmill at 7pm. I believe my metabolism is cranking up a bit.

JohnnyBravo64

Happy Happy Happy :happy:

grdnr03

bumping for later

tmw1018

Popcorn. I eat the earth balance brand - sometimes with a tbsp butter, sprinkle of salt, and a little agave to make it like kettle corn. 3.5 cups comes in at 130 before the add-ons and it's pretty filling.