How to avoid idle snacking

albatrossmarie

What are your methods to avoid snacking/grazing during the day or night?

viglet

I personally don't think there is anything wrong with snacking. Just make sure you snack on the right type of things.

If it is a crunch you need, maybe popcorn, cucumbers with lime and hot sauce, mini bretons (you can have 20 for 100 calories)

if it is sweetness, frozen fruit, grapes, apples

You know, just try and make it healthy snacking instead of empty stuff.

ChrysalisCove

I chose to actually encourage & plan for mindful snacking... I find that it keeps my blood sugar balanced, my energy level up & protects against over-eating at meals! My meals each day only account for 1/3-1/2 of my calories & the rest are spread throughout the day in snacks, which I weigh & preportion into baggies. I find that if I have easy access to healthful, nutrient-dense snacks I am not tempted by "junk".

SezxyStef

snack at night on anything you want as long as you stay within your calories. Last week I was snacking on chocolate covered almonds...this week it's milk chocolate speckled eggs...

Prior to Christmas it was cheetos cheese popcorn....I just weigh out my portions ensure it fits..bam done.

Oh smack your husband hand if it goes near your dish...I mean he can get his own...yours is measured.

viglet

Oh smack your husband hand if it goes near your dish...I mean he can get his own...yours is measured.

That is one thing that pisses me the hell off! When someone wants in on my treats. I fully measured this treat and I want to enjoy every single bite and then someone comes along and is all like "oh can I try that". Such a bummer.

melissamarah

I was a big fan of mindless snacking. I would sit down with a giant bag of tortilla chips, thinking hey a few won't be so bad. I'd turn on the TV, and somehow I'd eat the whole bag. When I'm watching TV in the evening, if food is out on the table, I will eat it.

I like the snack ideas people have put up. And if you're worried about portion control, I'd recommend portioning out snacks into baggies ahead of time.

ChrysalisCove

Oh smack your husband hand if it goes near your dish...I mean he can get his own...yours is measured.

That is one thing that pisses me the hell off! When someone wants in on my treats. I fully measured this treat and I want to enjoy every single bite and then someone comes along and is all like "oh can I try that". Such a bummer.

Lol - I lose a portion of all my best munchies to my toddler! I'm happy to share, b/c I'm so glad to see him loving the whole / nutrient-dense foods, but it is definitely a bummer when I've already measured / weighed out my portion. This morning I lost all but maybe spoonful of the yogurt for my granola ????

Holly_Roman_Empire

Don't be idle!

If I'm just sitting and watching TV, I'm always flipping through a magazine or working on sewing. My hands are ALWAYS occupied.

fushigi1988

I eat more during my meals, my snacking went down.

Azchange

I agree with the comment "don't be idle."

I ALWAYS eat though (6ish 'meals') I think the best thing for me is that I constantly eat, but it is planned and efficient. I also only have about 2.5 full hours a day of me time.

5am - Wake up, make breakfast (350ish cal), be at work by 6am

9am - Eat meal 1 at work (today is spaghetti squash, lean ground beef, and some home made marinara)

1230pm - Eat meal 2 at work (lean ground beef, brown rice, seasoning meatloaf and 4oz sweet potato)

315pm - Home from work, eat another meal (100 cal bread, with turkey + low cal string cheese and mustard or tuna)

I workout from 4-5pm every day (breaks up my "rest time")

530pm - Dinner is cooked, and I eat a small plate

7pm - Eat second small plate of dinner

830pm - Glorious chocolate or treat (I keep it to about 150 cal).

So as you can see, I am ALWAYS eating. Especially at the dinner times, I will take a plate and eat the same plate for 30 mins (take a bite every couple of minutes). Eat low calorie nutritious food so you can eat a ton and still be under your calorie goal.

My diary is open if you'd like to see some different idea's. It's not 100% perfect, I am NOT an all organic natural craze guy, I just eat what works for me and more importantly things I greatly enjoy.

Andrew

RoseTears143

I budget my calories to allow for snacks

Unknown

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firefoxxie

Oh smack your husband hand if it goes near your dish...I mean he can get his own...yours is measured.

That is one thing that pisses me the hell off! When someone wants in on my treats. I fully measured this treat and I want to enjoy every single bite and then someone comes along and is all like "oh can I try that". Such a bummer.

This a thousand times! It's mostly my sister who decides to disrupt my count. She is starting to get the idea now since I give her glares lol. She can get some herself, just not from my pile. :P

laurie04427

That is one thing that pisses me the hell off! When someone wants in on my treats. I fully measured this treat and I want to enjoy every single bite and then someone comes along and is all like "oh can I try that". Such a bummer.

Heh that's the truth!

Calliope610

I find that if I eat good, solid meals with plenty of protein, fats and carbs, I'm not hungry and don't have the need to snack. A good breakfast carries my through 4 hrs to lunch. A good lunch carries my through 5-6 hrs until dinner. No need to snack, unless I need more protein to hit my macro.

climbing_trees

I will snack on celery or cucumbers or broccoli or other super low calorie density foods. I like the act of snacking, even if I'm not hungry I will do it. Doesn't really matter what it is, I just am bored/tired/cranky and want to do the motion of putting food in my mouth and chewing.

Kenazwa

Idle snacking has been a huge problem for me, and it's hard to log a bite of this, a sip of that, a handful of these, a pinch of those ..............

Now I try to keep myself busy. That works the best to keep me out of the kitchen. Therefore, my best advice would be to take on a new hobby or project - something that keeps both hands and mind occupied.

glamourousdez

I completely agree with Viglet. Snacking is good as long as you have SMALL HEALTHY snacks. I think the problem with snacking is that people will have large snacks or have snacks that are unhealthy( ie chips or candy). I snack on prunes, apples or even special K strawberry crisps (if I'm wanting something sweet). If your hungry then eat something. I pack my lunch before work and have everything pre-portioned out....even my snacks, that way I do not over eat or eat anything I know is not good for me.

eldamiano

I stick sellotape over my mouth. Thing is, I end up eating the sellotape...

RachelS1993

I try and drink water to fill me up before snacking to see if it'll ward off the cravings! It usually works

KimberlyinMN

I limit the snacks that I even have in the house. Hmmmm... I think we only have 100 calorie packs of microwave popcorn and sugar free 40 calorie fudgesicles. Well, we do have tortilla chips and Fritos, but I guess I don't think of those as "snacks". Or at least I've never snacked on them, I weigh out an ounce to eat with a half sandwich.

FindingAmy77

my methods are that I plan to eat three snacks a day. It starts in the grocery store. I make sure I always have salsa and black bean chips around or celery and single serve peanut butters or a fiber one bar (oats and chocolate= delicious) or an apple

I have already sliced and cleaned celery in a baggie in the fridge, I pre portion out my black bean chips (27) into small baggies as soon as I buy them then put the baggies back into the bag so its easy to grab. I make sure I have oatmeal packets and popcorn on hand (the small mini bags)... I think it comes down to a choice of what you put into your mouth at the time you want something. Try to anticipating what things you like to snack on and have them ready to eat. This way you can eat and not feel guilty. But if you do grab something remember the saying "if you bite it, then write it"

Leonidas_meets_Spartacus

I eat two big meals which are filling. I usually select foods which don't take me on a ride of energy troughs and peaks. See what works for your body and keeps you full. If you are hungry you will eventually start snacking.

SwedishSarah

I drink a cup of tea or water before I eat any snacks. That way I can think about whether I'm really hungry or I just want to eat something. Usually, I'm not hungry. If you feel like you need a snack, go for something like a mix of nuts and fruit because they have a good bit of protein and are sweet.

wijody

I just don't do it. In fact, after I had my daughter my ONLY 'diet' was a strict 'NO snacks after dinner' rule and that allowed about 1-lb of weight loss per week for most of my pregnancy weight. To lose more weight, then I had to have a 'No snacks - period' rule and eat 2-3 meals per day. Works for me - everyone is different. If you prefer snacks, then you need to calorie count. I find that with just cutting out the snacks and not 'stuffing' myself at meals (eating 'reasonably' - no bag of chocolates with my meal, for example, or half a pie) I don't have to count calories and can still lose/maintain weight.