How do you keep from snacking in the evenings?

analuxton

I am great during the day, but as soon as I sit down on the couch to watch a show with my husband, I'm constantly thinking about what I can snack on. Evenings are the worst time of the day for me. Some of the tricks I've been using are to snack on healthy things like veggies or fruit or evening to have a cup of decaf coffee which seems to kill the cravings for me. Still, I'd love to hear some other tricks, because some evenings I just can't win that fight against cravings.

PBJunky

Get your husband one of these and the permission to taze you whenever you snack....sure that will straighten you out

shovav91

There's nothing wrong with snacking at night, just make sure to stay around your calorie goal!
Your metabolism doesn't stop just because you go to sleep

frannie_schneider

Well I have this same problem and a few things I am trying is that I set an alarm on my phone that tells me to stop eating at a certain time of evening. I also clean the kitchen which makes me not want to dirty anything else. I also am trying to make sure I have an okay snack in the early evening. Currently it is SF jello with some frozen fruit in it or 1 pc. of Riesen caramel (chilled). Everyone says to have something to keep your hands busy and I have some knitting but that doesn't always work. Good Luck.

erickirb

there is nothing wrong with snacking in the evening, just make sure you leave some calories to allow for the snacks.

McMehu

I try and save most of my calories for the evening. this week if I am low I either have veggies or air popped popcorn for a snack. or I go to bed early

groomchick

I save 100 calories from my allowence for an evening snack!

KimmieBrie

I try to stay with healthier things like those 100 cal packs of microwave popcorn... I find night snacking is due primarily to
boredom for me so I try to basically get "unbored"... by getting up and doing something productive or anything engaging my hands
(reading a book, working on a project - right now making a home made Christmas Stocking) When my hands are occupied it's
pretty impossible to snack. I can work on projects and watch TV at the same time.

colwellk

I brush my teeth after I'm done eating dinner. Somehow once I've brushed my teeth, it seems like I shouldn't be hungry anymore. I do find it helpful to be doing something with my hands, too, knitting or something.

BLGartner

I don't think there's anything wrong with an evening snack, either. Keep the calories available from your daily tally and don't make it too heavy. I've enjoyed a cup of decaf green tea with honey and lemon and a couple tea biscuits, a Special K Protein Snack Bar or the new Marathon Protein Mini Snack Bars made by Snickers. This satifies me except when I want something salty. Then I'll pop a 100-calorie pop corn with water flavored with Crystal Light Raspberry Green Tea. Enjoy! And DON'T FEEL GUILTY!

dshorette

I sit and knit. I find I am snacking because I want something to do while I am watcing TV. If I am kniting I dont think about snacking!

bjberry

I agree: popcorn is great, lowsalt and no butter. I have chewable calcium and vitamin pills (caramel flavored). I have those two sweets in the evening--giving me essential vitamins and taking care of my sweet tooth.

Juliebean_1027

I'm a calorie hoarder. I'm always terrified that I'm going to be starving in the evenings and have run out of calories, so I usually save about 900 calories for dinner and evening snacks. This is almost always more than enough, and instead of worrying about going over my calories for the day, I'm actually finding that I'm able to eat something extra. I've also increased my water to between 10-20 glasses a day and I'm just not as hungry as I used to be. If you're looking for some lower calorie snacks for the evening time, try the sugar free jello pudding cups. They're only 60 calories and usually are just enough. Or there's the laughing cow cheese wedges at 35 calories. Pair it with some veggies or even a 100 calorie pack of crackers.

bjshields

I floss and brush and usually have a glass of water. I also stay away from the drive-through, which my hubby unfortunately LOVES to do at night -- he only gets diet soda (which I know is awful for you), but it makes ME hungry! Good luck to you!

Atrox

I have this same problem. Obviously snacking at night is not a death nail for diets, but if you are like me at all it can get out of hand and over my calorie goal. Things to try: watch less TV (take walks around block with husband instead- this used to work great for me when I had a significant other- even take some wine to make it more social ; do something with your hands (knit, crossword puzzles, sudoku, sew, etc); and go to bed earlier (watch that last show in bed- I think most people don't even think of eating in bed). Good luck- I know this has been a hard one for me as well!

LivyJo

I have tea. Its great for you digestion, and there are so many flavors you can curb that sweet tooth with a little sweet tea (sweetened with stevia or splenda of course!)

But like people say, if you're actually hungry and have calories left over, then some popcorn or apple and peanut butter (or whatever floats your boat) isn't gonna kill ya.

DWilbanks

Get your husband one of these and the permission to taze you whenever you snack....sure that will straighten you out

LOL

And btw :mad: don't show this to my husband

rblair_22

In the past I have always had a cup of milk. I would always make sure that I had enough calories left and then maybe an hour after dinner, when my cravings would show up, I would drink 8 oz of 2% milk. That has always helped me.

AshjMusik

If you like tea, these area great!
http://www.teagarden.com/craving-tea-sampler-pr-494.html

BRANDYLYNETTE

WE make sugar free orange jello with mandarin oranges ...a big dish...and have lite cool whip to put on top in the fridge every other week. If I just eat fruit by itself....it makes me hungrier! Dont know why...but it does. We like to buy the Kroger 94% fat free popcorn. It isnt quite as good...but, it curbs the cravings. Yogurt fills me up....so I always have that on hand. We also buy the sugar free popsickle brand fudge pops that are only 40 calories for the chocolate cravings. WEight watchers has recipes for pies to make. There is an idea if you just want something different sometime. WE made the WEight watchers KEy lime pie....which wasnt bad! This past weekend...I changed it up a bit and made the KEy lime pie....but switched up the ingrediants with orange jello and orange yogurt and lite cool whip and added the mandarin oranges and we loved it! The key lime pie recipe is:
1/4 cup of boiling water....added to the small box of sugar free lime jello. Whisk it until it is dissolved. Then add 2 6 oz containers of fat free lime yogurt....whisk that in the jello. THEN....fold in the 8 oz thawed tub of lite cool whip...and put it in a reduced fat gramham cracker crust. REfrigerate for at least 4 hours until set. Then...that is a nice low cal treat for the family! Love it on Sundays.
Like I said, yesterday I changed it up a bit and followed the directions to that recipe....but, changed to SUGAR free orange jello....two 6 oz orange yoplait fat free yogurts....and then after I folded in the cool whip...added drained mandarin oranges to it....and yum!!! Just some ideas. Hope that helps and GOOD LUCK!!!! : ) : ) :

shydaisi

If it fits in my calories for the day, I just snack...

emrj0810

Get your husband one of these and the permission to taze you whenever you snack....sure that will straighten you out

Bahaha! I need this for my husband!!!

LorinaLynn

I pre-plan my snacking.

livnlite

There could be a few underlying factors regarding cravings or an insatiable need to snack. If it's carbs that you crave, then you may be suffering from carb addiction.

Old habits are also hard to break. Have you ever or do you know of anyone who has every tried to quit smoking? They will tell you that they had to not only stop lighting up a cigarette, but they may also have had to change their regular routine. For instance, their early morning smoke may be accompanied by their 1st cup of coffee in the day. Coincidentally, after they quit smoking, their worst craving for a cig is during that first sit down with a cup of coffee in the morning. If they change the coffee routine, to a different time, or have a different type of drink in the morning their craving lightens up.

You may find that if you change your regular routine, in the evening, your cravings will also lighten up.

Just a suggestion .. it may be worth a try.

My worst time for cravings or feeling the need to feed is when I am sitting watch TV in the evening. We have always been a family that snacks the evening. Chips, pop, popcorn, cheese and crackers ..you name it. We have been trying to break that habit... but, I keep hearing a little imaginary voice saying ... "I want chips ... I want chips .. You know you need to go to the store and buy us some chips, You know you wanna!"

I find if I go for a walk. or keep myself busy doing something (like cleaning out a closet or even my fridge, work in my office, or even play on the Internet), I can pass the time quickly and that craving will subside, then later I can sit and watch TV for a while before bed without having to deal with that tiny little evil imaginary image of a bag of potato chips dancing in front of me and taunting me to JUST HAVE ONE! When I get up to go and do my task of choice, I kick that little bastid to the curb as I walk by!

That'll show 'im.

chchchangess

baby carrots and 100 calorie bag of popcorns are lifesavers for me.

LillysGranny

Plain greek yogurt w/ 2 TBS 25% less sugar nestle's quick stirred into it. 140 calories, 15 grams of protein---satisfies my sweet tooth and all that protein keeps me FULL till bedtime. If it's a non-hunger related munchie attack that I just can't run from, I do air popped popcorn. I can much until my jaws are too tire to chew on about 130 calories.

And I think snacking is fine as long as you plan for it.

kmbrooks15

there is nothing wrong with snacking in the evening, just make sure you leave some calories to allow for the snacks.

^^^^THIS.

I snack in the evening as long as I have the calories available to me. I try to choose wisely (smart pop 100 calorie popcorn, Special K Cracker Chips, almonds or peanuts, etc.), but I leave myself enough calories to have a snack.

If you don't have the calories available, try some hot tea (I use flavored teas by Celestial Seasonings). That sometimes will satisfy my craving, especially for something sweet. I also sit and play solitaire on my laptop to keep my hands busy!

hhawes

Now that is smart - Ithink I will do that! It's like budget your calories for the evening -

dls06

I leave calories for night time snacking. I am a big late night eater. I could never stop.

Supermel

Try and Up your protein at dinner time. Also make sure you have drank lots of water. If those both were in place, then eat! Almonds, peanutbutter, protein shake, fruit, hummus and veggies, popcorn, rice cakes (salty though) were my faves when counting calories. I am doing low carb right now, so my fave snack is jalepeno almonds.