Strategy for pre dinner munchies
carlaringuette
Posts: 158 Member
I work full time with an hour commute which means I am really hungry when I walk through the door. Trying to break the nibbling during dinner prep habit.
Any suggestions?
Usually crave potato chips or cheese stick.
Any suggestions?
Usually crave potato chips or cheese stick.
2
Replies
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Plan for snacks. Keep them in your desk at work, or just plan to grab a cheese stick and nosh while you make dinner.4
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For me personally, I try not to let myself go hungry, that's when it becomes dangerous! I would try to eat more at lunchtime, or have some fruit or other healthy snacks with me to eat on the commute. Also carry a water bottle everywhere to make sure it's hunger not thirst.
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Sometimes I make a big bowl of popcorn (50g unpopped/150 calories) as soon I walk in the door. A quick spritz of butter spray and Molly McButter powder, salt and/or grated parm really takes care of my urge to devour.2
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I keep almonds in my car and have a couple on my way home. I also eat something (apple, celery, cheese stick) an hour or so before leaving work to help keep the cravings at bay.6
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Usually a cup of tea or a small bowl of veg soup will do it for me.
Or I've already eaten an apple on the way to take the edge off it.4 -
When I had those long commutes, I would always save an apple or other healthy snack to eat on the train (or car). That way I didn't arrive home so ravenous.5
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hot decaf tea4
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I'll try that tonight. Thx1
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When I had those long commutes, I would always save an apple or other healthy snack to eat on the train (or car). That way I didn't arrive home so ravenous.
I was doing that before Covid but when I started using hand sanitizer all the time it was a mind thing. Didn't want to eat in the car. You'd think that would help with the weight loss.
I uses to do grapes or cuties.2 -
For me personally, I try not to let myself go hungry, that's when it becomes dangerous! I would try to eat more at lunchtime, or have some fruit or other healthy snacks with me to eat on the commute. Also carry a water bottle everywhere to make sure it's hunger not thirst.
Thanks. Yep I'm working on the water.2 -
Protein is key. I try to have a ready supply of small protein balls/ bites, plus a high fibre fruit such as an apple. sometimes an apple is enough, but when I am craving those high salt/ high fat snacks it is most often because I am under hydrated and have not had enough protein after a workout. I know what you mean - sometimes I don't get home until 6:30 - 7pm and by that time I pretty much want to eat everything. It's really good that you are coming up with strategies - forward planning is a win win!4
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I munch on raw carrots. Your mouth feels like it's getting loads of food because there's a lot of chewing : )3
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Celery and peanut butter - low carb, crunchy, filling. I also drink a flavored seltzer water. I really like Spindrift sparking waters. Sometimes I eat a tablespoon of peanut butter and chase it with a blackberry seltzer water. tastes like a PBJ (sort of).3
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carlaringuette wrote: »When I had those long commutes, I would always save an apple or other healthy snack to eat on the train (or car). That way I didn't arrive home so ravenous.
I was doing that before Covid but when I started using hand sanitizer all the time it was a mind thing. Didn't want to eat in the car. You'd think that would help with the weight loss.
I uses to do grapes or cuties.
maybe try a bigger lunch if you don't want an afternoon snack?1 -
This might be good for the commutes - if you are a jerky type person I like Chomps meat sticks, specifically. I especially like their turkey jerky meat stick. It's 60 calories, 10 grams of protein, no cruddy ingredients, and is wrapped up so you can eat one end while keeping the other one still in the tube, so you don't get that gross hand sanitizer taste on it. Good for in the car or right when you come home.
The other thing I do when I'm hungry is make a blender bottle of a low cal protein shake - the one I use is 60-70 calories, vanilla flavored, and has a little fiber in there too. I often add a teaspoon of matcha to it but that's just me. Again, blender bottle makes it so you don't have to touch anything and it could go in the car too.
Both make great "I'm home from work and I'm starving" snacks.1 -
I make kale chips or I make kale/spinach/collard chips. They are healthy and very low in calories. You can Google recipes to get yourself some different ideas, using your conventional oven, air fryer, or toaster oven. I season with a dash of garlic powder and sea salt. Works as a very nice snack, any time of day. Very satisfying.1
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I keep peanut butter filled pretzels in my car. A bit of salt, a bit of carb a bit of protein- and they're CHEAP!
To keep myself from eating the whole container, they live in the trunk, and I just take out one portion for the drive home3 -
I understand not wanting to eat on the commute at the moment (and in some cases it's not possible anyway if you're on public transport and need to wear a mask).
Can you eat a snack just before you leave work instead? Or you could have a low-calorie snack ready for the moment you get home?
Another possibility is to not have potato chips or cheese sticks in the house if they are messing up your eating plan. Or, if you are simply eating too many of them, pre-portion them out into small bags so that the portions are calorie controlled and you can have some when you get home without overdoing it.1 -
Plan for them and for me beef jerky is my go to.
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Shouldn’t this thread be over on the “food and nutrition” discussion page?1
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I also have an hour commute & totally have had the same problem! I started eating flavored almonds on my way home or right before I leave work so I don't get so hungry. Then I'll have carrot sticks or sugar free gum while I'm cooking so I'm chewing something that's not lots of mindless calories. I used to snack on whatever I could find.1
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Here is my favorite "snack" right now. I make about 20 ounces of chicken broth (with the powder) bring it to a boil and then drop an egg into it and let it cook for a minute. I call it Home Made Eggdrop soup. Under 100 calories and really fills me up (because of the liquid). Probably not ideal if you are avoiding sodium.2
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I always fit a 100 calorie snack pack of something that I can throw in my purse for emergencies. It is also logged into MFP diary. My favorite is currently Cliff Bar thin chocolate chip bars. Two to a pack and very crispy. Delicious with a cup of tea. I do IF (12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.), so a large mug of hot tea takes the edge off in the morning when I want to eat something.1
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Shouldn’t this thread be over on the “food and nutrition” discussion page?0
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Years ago I used to have to stay late twice a week and couldn't handle the hunger, so I ended up having soup in a drinkable to go mug that I could warm up in the microwave before heading home. I would sip on the soup on my way home so I wasn't ready to gnaw my arm off or worse: hit the drive through and eat way too much fast food.1
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Ooh yes I have to save calories for that. I don't eat until 7:30 and feel like I need a nibble around 4:30 or 5:00. I'll save a max of 200 calories but lately I've been having two packets of miso soup, 35 calories each, made with a full two cups of water. It's really perfectly low calorie and holds me over until 7:001
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2 tips that might be tricky for a commute but, 1. flavored electrolyte water curbs all sorts of cravings and you are getting hydrated. 2. I have never been a smoothie person, BUT have converted! I like Orgain vanilla. It's sweet, or whatever you want it to be, and satisfies me without too many excess calories. Plus, I make it with water so I count it as part of my water intake. 2 scoops in a blender bottle and good to go. I feel full enough to make it to dinner.1
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northbyvertigo wrote: »Shouldn’t this thread be over on the “food and nutrition” discussion page?
Sorry I'm new with posting2 -
Risking an onslaught of Disagrees here - but were it me, I would avoid eating during my commute. Why? Because distractedly-eaten calories may temporarily fill my tummy, but wouldn't satisfy my need to stop and enjoy what I was eating. For me, enjoying each and every morsel that crosses my lips is very important. Does that make sense?
I would much rather have something to look forward to that was prepped and ready to eat the minute I walked in the door. With pre-chopped ingredients, I can throw together a delicious veggie or turkey wrap in the time it takes for the kettle to boil.2 -
I understand not wanting to eat on the commute at the moment (and in some cases it's not possible anyway if you're on public transport and need to wear a mask).
Can you eat a snack just before you leave work instead? Or you could have a low-calorie snack ready for the moment you get home?
Another possibility is to not have potato chips or cheese sticks in the house if they are messing up your eating plan. Or, if you are simply eating too many of them, pre-portion them out into small bags so that the portions are calorie controlled and you can have some when you get home without overdoing it.
My daughter still lives with us and my husband is the opposite of me, he needs to gain. I didn't get them this week and no one has said anything yet. Thanks for the tips.0
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