How do you fight Snack attacks?

Drinking lots of water helps me hold off urges to snack if I'm not actually hungry and just wanting to munch because I'm bored, stressed, etc. I love non-sweet sparkling water (like La Croix)- since it's yummy it almost passes for a snack. Gum and mints help with the urge to snack when I'm not truly hungry as well.

If I'm actually hungry, I'll go ahead and have a snack- what I choose depends on how many calories I have left for the day and whether or not I want to save calories for something else later in the day (such as a glass of wine). Sometimes I have a piece of fruit, some veggies, string cheese, trail mix, or a piece of dark chocolate. I also like to have a box of small, individually-packaged sweets on hand (100-cal dark chocolate bars, mini ice cream cones, etc.) Having a sweet treat to look forward to at the end of the day helps me avoid the urges throughout the day, because I know that I have that sweet treat waiting for me. And having them individually packaged helps prevent me from over-eating.

There's no one answer.

A big help to me was a planned frozen treat. I've tried them all. I can generally get a satisfying portion of something in the 100-120 cal range.

But here's the deal I made with myself. Any other treats, no ice cream.

I picked frozen treats because it seems like I can get a manageable portion that is also satisfying. Also it takes longer to eat. For quite a while I was into Weight Watcher fudge bars. But I would knock them off the fork and eat them with a spoon because I ate slower that way. I also experimented with plastic spoons to slow me down.

I also found planning fruit for snacks twice a day helped fight my sweet tooth.

Cookies- I think cookies are a specific problem. I'm not tempted by cake or pie or donuts. But cookies- they can look so small and harmless. But I can no more eat one cookie ( unless it's one of those giants) than I can eat one potato chip. I can knock off 300 cals in the blink of an eye. Usually 300+. I just try to avoid them.

Candy- I decided most candy I see around is just lousy kid candy. If I really want candy I have to go out and get something reall good. Probably imported from Europe. I've done it. But it's got to be special.

Hope something here helps.

I embrace the snack.

For some people it doesn't work. But for me, 150-300 calories about 2-3 hours into my morning and 2-3 hours into my afternoon keeps me on track, focused, and not having cravings.

And for me that *can* mean chocolate sweet yummy treats. I happen to like a variety of protein bars, which often come in really delicious flavors. A White Chocolate Macadama Cliff bar is one of my favorites, and it tastes really good. But it offers more nutrition for my body than a cookie, keeps me going, and keeps me from eating a crappy cookie that doesn't fit so well in my eating plan.

And I don't feel deprived. I feel...well, full and like I ate something I enjoyed and don't have any angst about it.

I'm so glad I stumbled onto this thread. Great suggestions. I struggle with the same thing, but my cravings hit at 8:00 every night about 45 minutes after I take my evening dose of medications. I'm going to try some of these suggestions.

Oh yeah I saw someone above mention fruit. I eat a lot of fruit too when I want something sweet. Lots of watermelon and berries.

Another thing I like to do is drink a glass of water right before eating something sweet and right after. It makes a half cup of ice cream seem feel like a half gallon.

Check how much protein and fat you consumed before your snack attack today. If protein and fat are low and carbs are high, you're more likely to get cravings. That's not true for everyone, but it might be worthwhile for you to pay attention to what your macros were before you "needed" that snack.

@lollyolivia First thing might be to avoid having the snacks available. Don't include them on your shopping list.

Also consider how many calories are in those snacks. Do they push you over your daily calorie goal, or are you still within the limit? If you're slightly over the limit, try to include some additional exercise to compensate for it.

I have to not buy things I know I can't control myself with. So... almost everything I cut up carrots etc and put those in the fridge along with a bunch of peeled hard boiled eggs, try to drink more water and only have healthy snacking options in the house. Am really enjoying roasted unsalted almonds with a few chocolate chips right now for when I want something a little 'naughty' and apples!

Craving are tough, I don't buy junk food but when I get the craving for something I can magically turn something that was healthy into something unhealthy. I read up a few posts and someone mentioned apple cider and I must say it does work for me but you need a lot of willpower to drink it.

You sound like me and maybe addicted to sugar? I don't buy it so I can't eat it. I find an apple with a serving of peanut butter with a teaspoon of maple syrup mixed it helps. Maple syrup has less sugar and calories than honey and is plant based.

@lollyolivia yeah, maple syrup is sugar, so just don't over do it. It really helps me, I'm getting, plant based fat and protien from the peanut butter, carb from the apple, sugar from the apple and maple syrup. It's very satisfying for me.

hltc13084 wrote: »

You sound like me and maybe addicted to sugar? I don't buy it so I can't eat it. I find an apple with a serving of peanut butter with a teaspoon of maple syrup mixed it helps. Maple syrup has less sugar and calories than honey and is plant based.

Hi - I'm from Vermont and I've apprenticed as a beekeeper. I applaud your use of honey and maple syrup, and they both have more flavor than table sugar. But the nutritional difference between honey, maple syrup, and good old table sugar is in the end pretty minor at best.

A tablespoon of table sugar is 48 calories. Honey come in about 64. Maple syrup is about 52. You notice that these are pretty similar!

Fit whatever you crave into your calorie allowance.

Drinking water helps as does keeping busy if you've already eaten your allotment for the day. Or you can get moving and burn some calories.

Think of the bigger picture and how great you'll feel when you reach goal.

I find chewing gum makes me more hungry. I think chewing gum tricks your stomach into thinking food is on its way then I get more hunger pains