How on earth do I stop the after dinner snacking?!

Break the cycle of sitting down to tv after dinner -it's a tough habit to break! I ride my spin bike while I watch my nighttime tv (hard to eat when you're spinning, even though I go at a very leisurely pace). Also I have a protein shake between dinner & bed - it's chocolatey (I freeze it a little so I eat it like ice) and it slows down cravings. Good luck - it's hard!

After dinner snacking is my downfall. To me, it's been the hardest habit to break. And it's just that -- a habit. It's not hunger or some kind of nutritional deficiency. Working it into my calorie budget doesn't work because it's a trigger for over-eating and I don't want to allow myself that option. So...that said... The first thing I did was stop buying all the snacky food that was supposedly for my kids' lunches but that I ended up devouring after they went to bed. That helped, but I ended up just replacing the mini-Oreos with string cheese. Then I started drinking a ton of water after dinner, to the point that I felt full. My snacking was usually done in front of the computer or the TV, so I changed a couple of things around in my house. I moved my computer away from the kitchen, and if I want to watch TV I do it while walking on the treadmill. It doesn't have to qualify as a workout -- I just set the treadmill to a comfortable strolling speed. No desire to eat while walking, plus I end up watching less TV. Lastly, I never eat in bed, so I go to bed earlier. These little changes have added up and I rarely snack after dinner anymore. Good luck!

I had that for a while. I pretty much have it under control now. This is what I did.

I bought and ate less junk.
I allowed myself a small dessert right after dinner and enjoyed it.
I then flossed and brushed my teeth and stuck to water the rest of the evening.

The mint flavor takes the craving for food, because I don't have food flavor in my mouth anymore. It also minimizes the hunger, that may arrive shortly before bedtime.

Good luck!

There has been some really great advice here. I wish I had seen this when I had trouble with evening snacking. I tried to go cold turkey and just never snack after dinner but I found that actually led to me overeating at dinner because I was afraid I would be hungry so I was trying to stuff myself to not be hungry for after dinner snacks.

What works for me is that I usually go for a walk/ do yoga after I get the kids put in bed. Right after they are in bed is when I go for my old go to of stress relief which is eating. So breaking the habit and replacing it with something like walking or yoga, relieves my stress AND helps make me less hungry. Then if I find I am hungry an hour or so after my walk I tend to want to snack on something more healthy since I just exercised so I will go for something like oatmeal and greek yogurt with fruit or oatmeal with peanut butter, or something that has protein and carbs. Then, I am not hungry any more and I feel satisfied because I snacked. I cannot snack on sugary treats AT ALL or they just make me more hungry. I have to snack on something high protein and low sugar.

I also never eat anywhere but the kitchen table. I don't eat in front of the computer, I don't eat in front of the tv, I don't eat while reading a book, or looking at my phone. I sit and eat with no distractions and find I enjoy my food more and eat less. It's hard to mindlessly snack on a whole bag of chips just sitting at my kitchen table staring at the wall.

And I also drink lots and lots and lots of water. I also plan for my snack in my calorie intake. I try to plan to have at least 500 available cals for after dinner just in case I am really hungry. Then with a healthy planned out snack I usually end up eating only 300 of them and end a little under for the day but feel good and full. If I need to eat the whole 500 then I feel good about that too.

Keep your hands busy. I crochet while watching TV or listening to a book or music after dinner, so I literally CAN'T snack while I'm doing that!!

You don't have to stop snacking after dinner. I eat RIGHT before I go to bed, because I'm usually hungry then. Save some extra calories so that you can snack after dinner. When you hear people say, "Eating past 7pm will make you gain weight!!" ...........Don't listen to them, it's a myth.

You don't have to stop. You can eat less during the day leaving you enough cals to fit those snacks in.

This ^^

One easy way especially if it's just out of habit is...after dinner, go brush your teeth. It truly works!!! I always wanted something sweet to eat after a meal, even though I wasn't hungry...until I started brusing my teeth after I eat.

I would suggest getting out f the house and taking a walk after dinner. It clears your head, gives you excercise and gets you away from the food.

I eat dessert. For me having a dessert signals to me that I am done eating. I only snack compulsively if I dont have that final treat.

You can also try chewing on fresh mint leaves. I've heard that some people think it signals the brain to recognize that you're full. Its also a digestive aid-- like ginger.

Or brush your teeth after supper?

What works for me might not work for you...

I get up at 7am and dont eat breakfast until 10am (300 calories), then I dont eat until my dinner time with the family at 6pm (300 calories), Im so busy in the day that although i sometimes register im hungry around 2pm theres no time to stop and think about it. Then at 9pm I have my supper which really is my missing lunch, so I have a sandwich (300 calories) fruit (100 calories), yogurt (60 calories),hot chocolate (40 calories) and a biscuit bar (100 calories) 1200 in total approx , as you can see from schedule from 6pm onwards I eat 900 calories ...300 at 6pm and a whopping 600 at 9pm, I also have a hugeeee glass of water after that and then get ready fro bed, I read in bed fro a while but make sure its lights out before I get a chance to get hungry again

Simple: don't have any of those snacks near...

Lots of good ideas here.

I have a different time that makes me want to snack. It is usually caused by boredom and lack of imagination or watching too much TV or streaming movies

I cope by recoding everything I eat, thinking about having to do that distracts me from the eating.
I come online and read blogs, write on mine, or read the recent wall and forum posts.
I do some yoga.
Workout to a Walk a Way the Pounds video.
Get on my Kindle and shop for new free books.
And if all that fails me, I sit down and think about what I really want to eat: something hot, something cold, or whatever.
If I still want to snack, then I choose what it is and I measure it out, take it to the table and sit down and pay attention to what I am eating and then I log it into MFP.

It really helps to have only healthy things to snack on, lots of good suggestions on here.
My go tos are
Celery (or jicama) with salsa.
Individual serving sized hummus with either counted out tortilla chips, celery, or jicama for dipping
Greek yogurt with a drizzle of honey or with berries.
Greek yogurt blended with 1 tbs of unsweetened cocoa
Celery stuffed with almond butter or low fat laughing cow cheese.
A romain lettuce salad with some nuts on top with balsamic vinegar
Sunflower seeds.
Single serving dark chocolate squares.

Oh and don't use your family likes the other stuff as an excuse, find healthy snacks all of you can eat and get rid of the high calorie, no nutrients food. Your kids and spouse don't need that crap any more than you do. If the kids whine remember you are the parent/adult and should make food decisions not them, they can have input but your decision has to be the final word.
And if the spouse complains tell them to eat their junk while at work, you and the kids don't need it.

Find what works for you.
You can get back in control.

I have the same problem. For whatever reason, my body is hungry in the late day/early evening. I choose to eat a very light breakfast (200 cals), a light lunch (200 cals), and I might have a light snack in the afternoon, but otherwise I save most of my calories for dinner and 2nd dinner (haha!) at about 7pm - 8pm.

:drinker: