What do you do if it's late and you're hungry?

MandiS80

I typically don't eat after 8pm and it's not usually an issue. But at this very moment... I'm feeling a bit hungry.
What do you do when this happens?

mrk34

I would eat an apple.

rvrtplus2

If I feel I must eat this late then I will have some fruit and a cheese stick or veggies. Something light but filling enough so I don't go to bed with a grumpy stomach.

Young28

i would drink water and go to bed. But if this doesnt help...a little fruit wont hurt.

Robin_Bin

Eat.

Okay, more helpfully... check out http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Robin_Bin/view/snacks-of-100-calories-or-less-267198
Jeffdoc's started a list of snacks for under 100 calories. With his kind permission, I've created this blog entry that has the original 88 snack ideas with the additional ones suggested by others here. Over 115 now.
Hope it helps! (Please give it a positive vote, if it's useful to you and feel free to add any suggestions.)

nyrican314

Hello,
I just joined today and will start logging tomorrow. One suggestion is to drink water 1st and if you are still having hunger pangs, then a fruit is the best choice. When is this late I go and brush my teeth because that signals me to close chops for the night.:drinker:

Reignofmongo

FF Cottage cheese is a great bed time snack, sugar free jello too!

Though fruit is healthy, I would advise against carbs, especially sugar. Messes with your insulin levels and will effect your body's ability to burn fat as efficiently. But if that apple just sounds irresistible, then eat your apple. lol

dvnjustina

Usually go to bed since I always have a craving just around 11 pm.

Saiklor

I make myself wait a set amount of time and then if I'm still craving I give in. Usually it goes away.

But not today! Tonight I realllly wanted french fries. I waited two hours, and now at 12:11am I am noshing on the 1 cup of baked fries I made myself.

peachyxoxoxo

I just have a small snack. Some cereal or fruit. Drink some water too to be sure you're not just dehydrated.

MandiS80

Thanks for all the tips. I have been drinking lots of water, so I don't think that's what the problem is.
I went into the kitchen in search of something good, when I came across the bag of hulled sunflower seeds... I felt like scarfing back handfuls of those, but I grabbed 8 baby carrots instead.

Inebriated

I eat.

MandiS80

I figured out why I'm hungry. I forgot to have the smoothie I logged in my diary for before the gym. grr

spatulathumbs

I drink water. Or have some hot tea.

irisheyez718

Have you eaten all of your calories already? If not, eat! It doesn't matter what time you eat.

V3ggieL0vinGinger

Peanut butter + spoon = happiness

briebear77

Haha new weight loss technique...log your food but don't eat it ;D I've totally done that lol.

MandiS80

Have you eaten all of your calories already? If not, eat! It doesn't matter what time you eat.

No, I'm way under... thought I was good before I realized I logged my smoothie and didn't have it.
I've always been of the mind that it's bad to eat late. Even my trainer said don't eat after 8 because it will go straight to my *kitten*.

BrienJD

Eat something. As long as it doesn't make it hard to sleep eat whatever you want if it's within your calorie goal. Even if it's above sometimes. Being hungry is a sign that your body is...dare I say it...hungry.

Or try drinking a glass or two of water. Sometimes when you think you are hungry you might just be thirsty.

JMHO

knapowell

Have you eaten all of your calories already? If not, eat! It doesn't matter what time you eat.

^This^

Robin_Bin

The risk of logging before eating is that you'll forget to eat what you logged. The risk of eating before logging is that you'll forget to log it. :happy:

Eat something... you're hungry and under your target. If it makes you feel better, eat something light. At night, I like dairy-protein. You could have the classic, warm milk. I like cheese for late cravings.

Even if it is worse to eat late (which I'm not sure about, and there's mixed research), the calories aren't smart enough to target your hips.

Redheadllena

It depends on if you're planning to go straight to bed or be up a while more. And if you have calories left.

If I'm going to be up a few more hours, I'll eat but if I'm about to go to bed, I know I'll get to eat when I wake up and you don't feel hungry if you're asleep So I tell myself that- and that I'll probably feel better eating a big breakfast than snacking before bed.

If I have calories to spare and I'm reallllly hungry I'll eat too.

JesterMFP

I've always been of the mind that it's bad to eat late. Even my trainer said don't eat after 8 because it will go straight to my *kitten*.

Your trainer is misinformed. It doesn't matter what time you eat (unless it gives you indigestion to eat right before you go to bed).

ElizabethRoad

Have you eaten all of your calories already? If not, eat! It doesn't matter what time you eat.

No, I'm way under... thought I was good before I realized I logged my smoothie and didn't have it.
I've always been of the mind that it's bad to eat late. Even my trainer said don't eat after 8 because it will go straight to my *kitten*.

I know you want to trust him because he's a professional, but trainers aren't required to have any education on nutrition or meal timing... or anything else really. Lots of people think you shouldn't eat after a certain time, but there's no science to back it up.

It's good advice if it helps to limit your overall intake - which it does for many people because they tend to snack mindlessly in the evening - but if you're within your calorie limit and it doesn't upset your sleep, it's fine to eat at night.

And... you have to look at the big picture. Even if it were true that you shouldn't eat after 8PM, it wouldn't matter if you did it once in a while.

mrsmustgetmuscles1

I've found that smart pop popcorn (or any of the low fat varieties) is a great snack that fills you up without a lot of calories, 15 calories per cup popped. Also, if it's really late I just try to go to bed, sleeping usually helps the hunger go away!

cgray

It depends on what I'm doing. When I was training for the Chicago marathon if it was midnight and I got hungry I ate. Most of the time if I'm really hungry and can't sleep i simply take it off the next day's calories.

caraiselite

i would eat protein and fat. maybe some eggs and bacon or a steak.

self_control

drink warm water

fit4lyfeLisa

I'll have a piece of fruit or yogurt.

Tdk4685

I eat something to get me through the night. Fruit, carrots, something quick and low cal.

hesn92

eat