Hungry. SO HUNGRY!

Hi,

I'm after some healthy recipe ideas that will keep me feeling full throughout the evening. I usually at at around 7:30pm and by 10pm I'm craving a snack! I don't want to snack an hour before bedtime so I need recipes that will stop me from going to bed hungry...

Carly

Replies

  • qtgonewild
    qtgonewild Posts: 1,930 Member
    i always snack before bedtime!!! if i have 210 calories or more left i have a jello pudding cup (100) and a fatboy jr mini ice cream sandwich (110). thats the secret to my success. LOL if i have less calories ill have a fruit. like a plum or apricot. mmmm
  • kikicooks
    kikicooks Posts: 1,079 Member
    There is nothing wrong with eating close to bed time if it fits in you calorie goals, but if you don't want to then just make sure your dinners are filling with high protein, fat and fiber. I find if I eat something that is mostly carbs I get hungrier sooner.
  • trentwiggly
    trentwiggly Posts: 74 Member
    What the others said about eating close to bed. There's nothing wrong with when you eat...just the calorie numbers.

    I suggest fresh fruit. I snack on watermelon, grapes, pluots, apples, you name it...whatever's on sale, every night. You can eat a lot and you can still stay within your calorie goal.
  • Yeah, unfortunately pasta is my favourite - i'm sometimes hungry an hour after eating it.
  • What the others said about eating close to bed. There's nothing wrong with when you eat...just the calorie numbers.

    I suggest fresh fruit. I snack on watermelon, grapes, pluots, apples, you name it...whatever's on sale, every night. You can eat a lot and you can still stay within your calorie goal.

    I would normally have some fruit, but sometimes this doesn't even touch the sides and I'm still hungry. Or I wake up in the night feeling hungry.
  • I drink coffee, and it helps keep the hunger down. Eventually if you keep at it you just get use to being hungry though. Just ignore it ;-)
  • Akimajuktuq
    Akimajuktuq Posts: 3,037 Member
    Um... your diary is not open.

    There is absolutely NO need to struggle with cravings and hunger to get healthy (and lose weight). True story. While calories do matter, WHAT we eat matters just as much. Always reaching for snacks high in sugar/carbs (fruit, pudding, pasta, bread, etc) is likely not helping you with the hunger issue. You probably need much more calorie dense foods, ie fat and protein. If you are eating in excess of 100 grams of carbs per day and going over on sugar, you might want to rethink your diet.... at least until your struggle with hunger is resolved.... Unless you really are hungry because you are trying to under-eat. The solution for that: eat more.
  • aliceb39
    aliceb39 Posts: 84 Member
    If you're so hungry that it wakes you up at night, I wonder if you're eating a lot of less healthy foods? As an example (taken from my life!), I had a bumble bee chicken salad kit and a peanut marzipan candy for dinner one night and was within my calorie/carb limits, but that is not very much food at all. I could have had a salad and some fruit in place of the candy, which would have filled me up more, and probably still have calories left over.
  • bluedevil005
    bluedevil005 Posts: 59 Member
    Oatmeal. It's less than 170 cals and sticks with me pretty well.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    1. Make sure that your calorie goal is actually appropriate for your body size and activity level. A lot of people drop their calories too low for their body to sustain and then wonder why they're always hungry.

    2. Look for food higher in protein, fats, and fiber. These help us stay fuller and more satisfied for longer. There's nothing wrong with carbs and sugars, but it's a good idea to balance them.

    3. Drink plenty of fluids.

    4. Give your body time to adjust. Hunger signals are partially created out of habit. If you have always eaten late at night your body is going to remind you about that. Given time, it will catch up with your new routine and stop sending them.
  • FourIsCompany
    FourIsCompany Posts: 269 Member
    I sometimes eat a 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt with a cup of frozen raspberries smashed into it and a T of agave nectar. It's my version of raspberry ice cream! 210 calories and 14 g protein to keep me feeling full. If I don't have that many calories left, I eat a banana.
  • ChrisM8971
    ChrisM8971 Posts: 1,067 Member
    I have a greek yogurt (125 g full fat) with about 10 g of pumpkin seeds mixed in about an hour before bed, get a hit of fats proteins and calories to keep me full
  • Toblave
    Toblave Posts: 244 Member
    Try more protein with dinner and maybe something with a little more fat and protein as a snack if you're hungry later. I find that this works for me.
  • maryrx59
    maryrx59 Posts: 55 Member
    I have late night snack planned EVERY NIGHT. I microwave 3T popcorn in brown lunch bag (fold tightly twice) 1T unsalted butter...that's right, REAL butter and either sparkling flavored water or diet soda. Or I have Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin bread toasted with peanut butter and either hot tea or coffee. Just knowing it's planned in the menu for the day takes the edge of any concerns that I could go to bed hungry. I don't like that feeling either.

    Eating late hasn't hurt me, as a matter of fact, it has kept me on track!!
    Good luck to you on your journey!
    Mary
  • lilRicki
    lilRicki Posts: 4,555 Member
    I usually have a snack if my carbs are too low, so I'll have a juice box and a granola bar and i feel better. I'm a protein eater, so it's very rare that I'm hungry at bedtime
  • 1. Make sure that your calorie goal is actually appropriate for your body size and activity level. A lot of people drop their calories too low for their body to sustain and then wonder why they're always hungry.

    2. Look for food higher in protein, fats, and fiber. These help us stay fuller and more satisfied for longer. There's nothing wrong with carbs and sugars, but it's a good idea to balance them.

    3. Drink plenty of fluids.

    4. Give your body time to adjust. Hunger signals are partially created out of habit. If you have always eaten late at night your body is going to remind you about that. Given time, it will catch up with your new routine and stop sending them.

    I think because I have never really worried about what I eat or weigh i'm not 100% certain on how to balance. I worry about eating foods with fat so almost avoid them all together. Clearly I need to do some more research into this whole thing!
  • kikicooks
    kikicooks Posts: 1,079 Member


    I think because I have never really worried about what I eat or weigh i'm not 100% certain on how to balance. I worry about eating foods with fat so almost avoid them all together. Clearly I need to do some more research into this whole thing!

    You need fat, just not too much of unhealthy ones, saturated and trans fat. Lots of times foods labeled low fat or non fat add salt and/or sugar to make up for it.
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    1. Make sure that your calorie goal is actually appropriate for your body size and activity level. A lot of people drop their calories too low for their body to sustain and then wonder why they're always hungry.

    2. Look for food higher in protein, fats, and fiber. These help us stay fuller and more satisfied for longer. There's nothing wrong with carbs and sugars, but it's a good idea to balance them.

    3. Drink plenty of fluids.

    4. Give your body time to adjust. Hunger signals are partially created out of habit. If you have always eaten late at night your body is going to remind you about that. Given time, it will catch up with your new routine and stop sending them.

    I think because I have never really worried about what I eat or weigh i'm not 100% certain on how to balance. I worry about eating foods with fat so almost avoid them all together. Clearly I need to do some more research into this whole thing!

    It's really common for dieters to go low-fat because that's what so many of us were taught over the years. Fat got a bad reputation back in the 1990s that just won't go away. It seems like every health magazine and food commercial is still touting the wonders of low-fat foods. But your body needs a good chunk of fat in your diet to help with vitamin absorption, hormone balance, nerve function, cell repair, etc. Don't be afraid of the fats!

  • Thank you! I think maybe I am expecting too much without a realistic goal. Possibly not eating enough. I'm 5'6 126lb so I'm not over weight, just a little bit wobbly. What is a realistic calorie in take for me, I'd like to drop only 5lbs.. whats a realistic time length?
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    With only 5 pounds to lose, you're looking at 1/2 a pound, maybe even slightly less than that, per week as a reasonable and healthy goal. But if you want us to run your numbers for you to get an estimate, please provide height, weight, age and amount of average activity.
  • With only 5 pounds to lose, you're looking at 1/2 a pound, maybe even slightly less than that, per week as a reasonable and healthy goal. But if you want us to run your numbers for you to get an estimate, please provide height, weight, age and amount of average activity.

    5ft 6
    126lb
    26

    I walk 2.7 miles to and from work each way.
    I'm currently doing 30 day shred level 1 everyday.

    I work at a desk so other activity is minimal.
  • kikicooks
    kikicooks Posts: 1,079 Member
    5'6" and 126lbs probably does not require you to lose weight. I'm 5'4" and my ideal weight is somewhere around there. But every body is different. If you are just a bit wobbly as you say then focus more on strength training. 30 Day Shred is a great start. If you are doing that plus walking 2.7 miles a day twice, you might just not be eating enough so that is why you get hungry at night. What is your average daily calorie intake?
  • I agree with the greek yogurt idea. It's relatively low calorie, fills you up, the dairy gets your body ready for bed, plus it's like dessert! If you are having real hunger pains though, try eating smaller meals/snacks more often like every 2-3 hours. This helps me and many people I know from binging.