Late evening cravings

Advice on how to beat cravings after dinner? I always crave something sweet or carbs. I can do good all day but then after dinner I sabotage myself. Any tips?
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Replies

  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    Are you on a low carb diet? If not, are you able to moderate a treat that fits in your calories for the day? Have you tried fruit?

    Is the craving part of an established habit? In other words, has it been a common practice to have something sweet while watching TV?
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,449 Member
    I save some calories for after dinner. Then I go to bed soon after. If I stay up for more than 2-3 hours after dinner, I want to eat again. Early to bed early to rise is my strategy.
  • stephaniek511
    stephaniek511 Posts: 86 Member
    What these folks said. I also use sugar free jello, if you like it. Sweet enough to cut the hankering and minimal calories.
  • RelCanonical
    RelCanonical Posts: 3,882 Member
    I have to plan to have something after dinner into my calories because I hate going to bed without food in my stomach.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,541 Member
    edited November 2019
    Bizarrely, eating a solid breakfast with ample protein (primarily), and getting good nutrition through the day (to a lesser extent), helped reduce my evening cravings. (Maybe I'm just weird ;) ).

    Sleep or stress (overall) can also be factors, because fatigue affects appetite.

    ETA: Other contributors can be boredom or habit. Getting rid of a habit is usually easier if one replaces it with a new, better habit, rather than trying to quit cold turkey. Could be something like hot herb tea, or a bubblebath, or light exercise. Resuming an old hobby or starting a new one are good for both habit and boredom. Especially good are those that require clean hands (sketching, needlewook, playing a musical instrument, etc.) or create dirty ones (painting, gardening, carpentry, etc.).
  • ellie117
    ellie117 Posts: 293 Member
    edited November 2019
    I've always had this problem. Unfortunately the only way I've been able to kick it is by not keeping my go-to snacks in the house. It's tough, but I can't have what I want if it's not available to me.

    If I snack after dinner, I split a bag of Orville's Natural lightly salted popcorn. Or I'll sometimes have sunflower seeds or pistachios.
  • LyndaBSS
    LyndaBSS Posts: 6,964 Member
    Cantaloupe tastes like creamsicles to me so that’s great for dessert.

    If you choose to avoid snacking in the evening, brush your teeth after dinner.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    I'll struggle with this for the rest of my life, but all in all that's a mark of a damn good life.

    I eat light in the morning and afternoon and save my calories for the evening, figuring my margin of error is safer by doing so. I drink water before/during snacking and I do something active at night. This is a bit of a struggle as this is my only down time and I want to spend as much time as possible with the family, so we end up watching something together or playing a game.

    We moved recently and now have much more to do with all the land, so this helps a lot.
  • RelCanonical
    RelCanonical Posts: 3,882 Member
    CSARdiver wrote: »
    I'll struggle with this for the rest of my life, but all in all that's a mark of a damn good life.

    I eat light in the morning and afternoon and save my calories for the evening, figuring my margin of error is safer by doing so. I drink water before/during snacking and I do something active at night. This is a bit of a struggle as this is my only down time and I want to spend as much time as possible with the family, so we end up watching something together or playing a game.

    We moved recently and now have much more to do with all the land, so this helps a lot.

    Staying active at night helps me with the cravings too. I have trouble for the same reasons, but I always feel better when I'm active at night, both from a physical and mental standpoint. Otherwise it feels like I'm just waiting for work to start the next day rather than living my life.
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    CSARdiver wrote: »
    I'll struggle with this for the rest of my life, but all in all that's a mark of a damn good life.

    I eat light in the morning and afternoon and save my calories for the evening, figuring my margin of error is safer by doing so. I drink water before/during snacking and I do something active at night. This is a bit of a struggle as this is my only down time and I want to spend as much time as possible with the family, so we end up watching something together or playing a game.

    We moved recently and now have much more to do with all the land, so this helps a lot.

    Staying active at night helps me with the cravings too. I have trouble for the same reasons, but I always feel better when I'm active at night, both from a physical and mental standpoint. Otherwise it feels like I'm just waiting for work to start the next day rather than living my life.

    Popcorn, baked chicken, eggs, and oatmeal are my go to fillers when I want to feel full.

    That and I've been doing a lot more reading at night instead of watching shows. It's hard to munch and read.
  • wagmtcocom_pb
    wagmtcocom_pb Posts: 11 Member
    Your not alone. I love to snack at night. Ice cream is my achilles heel.
  • gemiller87
    gemiller87 Posts: 135 Member
    I started switching to popcorn for that evening craving, fiber, protein and pretty low calorie. The fiber/protein make it pretty filling too!
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    gemiller87 wrote: »
    I started switching to popcorn for that evening craving, fiber, protein and pretty low calorie. The fiber/protein make it pretty filling too!

    Pop Secret 100 Calorie Kettle corn....sweet & salty.
  • ellie117
    ellie117 Posts: 293 Member
    Your not alone. I love to snack at night. Ice cream is my achilles heel.

    Have you tried lower calorie ice creams like Skinny Cow or Halo Top? Not as much variety as Ben & Jerry's but it definitely saves calorie wise.
  • RelCanonical
    RelCanonical Posts: 3,882 Member
    CSARdiver wrote: »
    CSARdiver wrote: »
    I'll struggle with this for the rest of my life, but all in all that's a mark of a damn good life.

    I eat light in the morning and afternoon and save my calories for the evening, figuring my margin of error is safer by doing so. I drink water before/during snacking and I do something active at night. This is a bit of a struggle as this is my only down time and I want to spend as much time as possible with the family, so we end up watching something together or playing a game.

    We moved recently and now have much more to do with all the land, so this helps a lot.

    Staying active at night helps me with the cravings too. I have trouble for the same reasons, but I always feel better when I'm active at night, both from a physical and mental standpoint. Otherwise it feels like I'm just waiting for work to start the next day rather than living my life.

    Popcorn, baked chicken, eggs, and oatmeal are my go to fillers when I want to feel full.

    That and I've been doing a lot more reading at night instead of watching shows. It's hard to munch and read.

    Apples and greek yogurt hit the spot for me usually. (: I'll also often split my dinner portion in half and have part at dinnertime and part before I go to bed. Tonight I'm having two egg sandwiches.
  • JasonJoyHedenskog
    JasonJoyHedenskog Posts: 143 Member
    Thanks for the ideas! I’ll try these!
  • Sponge86
    Sponge86 Posts: 10 Member
    I found freezing a muller light yoghurt and having it with some fruit is like having ice cream. Helps me avoid snacking x
  • Katmary71
    Katmary71 Posts: 7,132 Member
    I agree with saving some calories for after dinner. Once I'm done eating for the day I brush my teeth and put my Invisalign in. I usually have a big mug of herbal tea, some "sleep", after dinner, or relax type of tea to unwind.
  • LZMiner
    LZMiner Posts: 300 Member
    OMG, nighttime can be my downfall! It's sooo easy to grab a cookie, or a handful of cheezits...it's just mindless eating. I prefer to drink my calories, so if I have a glass of wine, I won't snack. Tea is a good second choice. Otherwise---and this is not the best solution, but it works for me---I go hide upstairs and read. Last night I left spouse watching TV by himself at 7:30---I just couldn't handle the temptation!
  • gewel321
    gewel321 Posts: 718 Member
    Your not alone. I love to snack at night. Ice cream is my achilles heel.

    Have you tried Halo Top ice cream. It is not very calorie dense and it has helped my ice cream craving. I make 1/2 cup and eat it right out of the measuring cup. Had the cookies and cream over the last few weeks and it is super yum and fits right in!
  • RelCanonical
    RelCanonical Posts: 3,882 Member
    gewel321 wrote: »
    Your not alone. I love to snack at night. Ice cream is my achilles heel.

    Have you tried Halo Top ice cream. It is not very calorie dense and it has helped my ice cream craving. I make 1/2 cup and eat it right out of the measuring cup. Had the cookies and cream over the last few weeks and it is super yum and fits right in!

    Halo Top has helped me meet my protein goal on more than one occasion.
  • jujaws
    jujaws Posts: 190 Member
    If anyone looks through my diary they will see I normally don't pick the healthiest things 😂. I'm just counting calories and I make sacrifices where I need to in order to eat something yummy! That's why I needed to get back into logging my food to be more aware. Each time I leave and think I'll do alright on my own, I gain weight again 🤣. Although in the past I'd eat skinny cow ice cream sandwiches. Slushies are my go to now since they're a sweet treat but better than buying myself ice cream.
  • Viking_Dad
    Viking_Dad Posts: 185 Member
    jujaws wrote: »
    If anyone looks through my diary they will see I normally don't pick the healthiest things 😂. I'm just counting calories and I make sacrifices where I need to in order to eat something yummy!

    I do the same thing for beer 😋
  • Lazygirly
    Lazygirly Posts: 23 Member
    Skinny Pop Gingerbread popcorn is soo tasty! Only 70 calories for a cup. Also the Lemon Loaf tea from Tazo is great (it’s from the dessert tea collection)
  • jc4meandu
    jc4meandu Posts: 273 Member
    whatever your doing its working!! I love smartfood white cheddar popcorn or apple with peanut butter yummy!
  • I try to save 200 calories for night and snack on satsuma. Somehow it works.
  • 796fra
    796fra Posts: 46 Member
    Only produce after dinner. Don't want produce? Then I'm not that hungry after all.
  • jasamjak67
    jasamjak67 Posts: 1,421 Member
    Advice on how to beat cravings after dinner? I always crave something sweet or carbs. I can do good all day but then after dinner I sabotage myself. Any tips?

    @JasonJoyHedenskog cottage cheese - sesame grain crackers with pepperjack cheese and celery with peanut butter works for me.

    Water too but you'll be getting up at night! 🙌🙃
  • FatToFitChaser
    FatToFitChaser Posts: 192 Member
    It's a tough one to fight the cravings. It's a trial and error until you figure out what sutis you. I crave sweets and replacing it with healthy sweet alternative has helped me..

    It's a mind game.

    Stay Strong 💪