Night Snacking....

MissKim78
MissKim78 Posts: 426 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I am usually hungry at night. I eat a decent amount during the day, usually hitting my calorie goal or very near it (1380-not inc extra calories from exercise) after eating supper (which I typically eat around 5-6pm). I work until 4 or 5 and am usually starving when I get home so we have supper right away.

I'm trying to make lower cal choices through the day to stretch my calories but it all still adds up! I usually have a banana, an apple and yogurt or oatmeal for breakfast with hot lemon water and a touch of honey. For snacks I usually have a handfull of almonds or a granola bar or more yogurt. For lunch it is usually a frozen packaged dinner like Smart Ones or Lean Cuisine and diced peaches or yogurt, then my suppers tend to contain a protein, veggie and starch with a glass of skim milk or water. I drink a lot of water through the day too.

Just a few notes, I am a picky eater....I don't like celery, onions, mushrooms, peppers, zucchini, anything curry, just to name a few! I also try not to drink a lot after 8pm because I find that makes for being woken up a few times for bathroom trips which results in feeling more tired the next day! I am on a pretty tight budget when it comes to food, so the cheaper the better! I live in NS, Canada....not the US where I've been hearing of great, cheap places to shop! haha Also, I usually go to bed around 11pm and get up at 7am....if I go to bed any earlier and I will be wide awake at 3am! LOL

Just wondering if there is anything I should try to be eating at supper to keep me feeling full longer, or any snacks that are low calorie, low fat.
Easy, quick, in-expensive snacks....or is that just wishful thinking?? :tongue:

Any tips are welcomed!

Thanks!!

Replies

  • MartiJJohnston
    MartiJJohnston Posts: 517
    Are you sure we're not twins? :laugh:

    Do you like popcorn? Maybe allowing yourself a small bag of air popped (no butter) popcorn as a snack in the evening would help. This is going to be a lot of trial and error. What worked for me 2 years ago doesn't work for me anymore, so I'm learning... again!

    I am going to have to figure out a way to cut my calories during the day as well because I consume a lot of calories at night, too. I used to bring a bag of the steamable veggies (about 120 calories for the whole bag) to eat as my afternoon "snack" so I wouldn't eat as much for dinner. It filled me up much more than fruit or yogurt.

    We can do this girl! One day at a time!
  • Sweetredpoison
    Sweetredpoison Posts: 66 Member
    Oh boy same here. I will be good all day except for after dinner. When you get home from work around 5:00pm.. don't eat dinner until 7:00pm or so. The more time I have to think and encourage myself not to binge eat or eat something I shouldn't the better.
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    this might be for you it might not but I shifted my entire eating schedule to later in the day to get rid of night time snacking. I wake up and go to work (6:30 start time) but try not to eat breakfast until 9:30 and then lunch at 1:30ish and then I am not hungry for an afternoon snack, workout when I get home from work so that keeps me busy, then eat dinner later and go to bed before I am hungry again. I have found for me it just does not bother me to be hungry in the mornings but it seems like once I start eating for the day the flood gates have opened up. Its nontraditional so you are welcome to take it or leave it

    hope you find what works for you :)
  • Zelinna
    Zelinna Posts: 207 Member
    Popcorn is a great snack option. You can make it as good or as bad as you want.

    Personally I cannot survive without snacking in the evenings so I plan that into my day.

    While I was losing I would hit my calorie goal around supper time, but I would save any exercise calories I had for my evening snacks. This would usually give me 200 - 600 calories to work with in the evenings.
  • careyw1
    careyw1 Posts: 400 Member
    Im the same way after supper we eat at 5/5:30pm about 7/7:30pm Im hungry again. Sometimes I try to ignore it get my mind off of it..I go on here.lol If I do eat something its usually a fruit. I might go over on my calories but I figure at least its a healthy choice and I dont feel as bad. Although I need my sleep so if I can a try to hold out until 9pm then go to bed and watch tv..keeps my mind busy.
  • MissKim78
    MissKim78 Posts: 426 Member
    Oh boy same here. I will be good all day except for after dinner. When you get home from work around 5:00pm.. don't eat dinner until 7:00pm or so. The more time I have to think and encourage myself not to binge eat or eat something I shouldn't the better.

    Its so hard to wait! I am usually starving by the time I get home as well as my bf. LOL I have to take lunch from 12-1 at work and can only "snack" (small items, no dishes, nothing heated or cooked) at my desk so by the time I get home I am really hungry!
  • kikiboniki
    kikiboniki Posts: 398 Member
    just a thought? but it doesn't sound like you are getting much fat in your diet. I know, for me, a little fat is really helpful in keeping me fuller longer. Maybe sautee your veggies in a little olive oil, or eat some avocado, just to get healthy fats that will help fill you up longer.
  • maddymama
    maddymama Posts: 1,183 Member
    Hi,
    So you why can't you eat a snack when you get home from work to tide you over, then eat dinner around 7:00? My hours are similar to yours, but I got to bed at 10:00, not 11:00. I'm starving when I get home from work, but I eat a snack then the meal later. Or I eat a snack while driving home in the car.
    If I ate dinner at 5:00 I'd probably be raiding the pantry all evening long.
    Good luck!

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