How to avoid idle snacking

I personally don't think there is anything wrong with snacking. Just make sure you snack on the right type of things.

If it is a crunch you need, maybe popcorn, cucumbers with lime and hot sauce, mini bretons (you can have 20 for 100 calories)

if it is sweetness, frozen fruit, grapes, apples

You know, just try and make it healthy snacking instead of empty stuff.

snack at night on anything you want as long as you stay within your calories. Last week I was snacking on chocolate covered almonds...this week it's milk chocolate speckled eggs...

Prior to Christmas it was cheetos cheese popcorn....I just weigh out my portions ensure it fits..bam done.

Oh smack your husband hand if it goes near your dish...I mean he can get his own...yours is measured.

I was a big fan of mindless snacking. I would sit down with a giant bag of tortilla chips, thinking hey a few won't be so bad. I'd turn on the TV, and somehow I'd eat the whole bag. When I'm watching TV in the evening, if food is out on the table, I will eat it.

I like the snack ideas people have put up. And if you're worried about portion control, I'd recommend portioning out snacks into baggies ahead of time.

Don't be idle!

If I'm just sitting and watching TV, I'm always flipping through a magazine or working on sewing. My hands are ALWAYS occupied.

I agree with the comment "don't be idle."

I ALWAYS eat though (6ish 'meals') I think the best thing for me is that I constantly eat, but it is planned and efficient. I also only have about 2.5 full hours a day of me time.

5am - Wake up, make breakfast (350ish cal), be at work by 6am

9am - Eat meal 1 at work (today is spaghetti squash, lean ground beef, and some home made marinara)

1230pm - Eat meal 2 at work (lean ground beef, brown rice, seasoning meatloaf and 4oz sweet potato)

315pm - Home from work, eat another meal (100 cal bread, with turkey + low cal string cheese and mustard or tuna)

I workout from 4-5pm every day (breaks up my "rest time")

530pm - Dinner is cooked, and I eat a small plate

7pm - Eat second small plate of dinner

830pm - Glorious chocolate or treat (I keep it to about 150 cal).

So as you can see, I am ALWAYS eating. Especially at the dinner times, I will take a plate and eat the same plate for 30 mins (take a bite every couple of minutes). Eat low calorie nutritious food so you can eat a ton and still be under your calorie goal.

My diary is open if you'd like to see some different idea's. It's not 100% perfect, I am NOT an all organic natural craze guy, I just eat what works for me and more importantly things I greatly enjoy.

Andrew

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That is one thing that pisses me the hell off! When someone wants in on my treats. I fully measured this treat and I want to enjoy every single bite and then someone comes along and is all like "oh can I try that". Such a bummer.

Heh that's the truth!

I will snack on celery or cucumbers or broccoli or other super low calorie density foods. I like the act of snacking, even if I'm not hungry I will do it. Doesn't really matter what it is, I just am bored/tired/cranky and want to do the motion of putting food in my mouth and chewing.

I completely agree with Viglet. Snacking is good as long as you have SMALL HEALTHY snacks. I think the problem with snacking is that people will have large snacks or have snacks that are unhealthy( ie chips or candy). I snack on prunes, apples or even special K strawberry crisps (if I'm wanting something sweet). If your hungry then eat something. I pack my lunch before work and have everything pre-portioned out....even my snacks, that way I do not over eat or eat anything I know is not good for me.

I try and drink water to fill me up before snacking to see if it'll ward off the cravings! It usually works

my methods are that I plan to eat three snacks a day. It starts in the grocery store. I make sure I always have salsa and black bean chips around or celery and single serve peanut butters or a fiber one bar (oats and chocolate= delicious) or an apple

I have already sliced and cleaned celery in a baggie in the fridge, I pre portion out my black bean chips (27) into small baggies as soon as I buy them then put the baggies back into the bag so its easy to grab. I make sure I have oatmeal packets and popcorn on hand (the small mini bags)... I think it comes down to a choice of what you put into your mouth at the time you want something. Try to anticipating what things you like to snack on and have them ready to eat. This way you can eat and not feel guilty. But if you do grab something remember the saying "if you bite it, then write it"

I drink a cup of tea or water before I eat any snacks. That way I can think about whether I'm really hungry or I just want to eat something. Usually, I'm not hungry. If you feel like you need a snack, go for something like a mix of nuts and fruit because they have a good bit of protein and are sweet.