all my sweets lovers: any tips on night time munching?

I keep a bag of fun size chocolate (m&ms, snickers, etc.) in the closet of my guest bedroom and not the kitchen. I also have 5 sleeves of thin mints in the back of my freezer (all of which were bought last year). Both are out of sight so I dont really think about it. When I am craving something, I have to make an effort to either dig in my freezer or go to the other side of my place, open the closet door, and grab what i feel like it. I also like the fun size becuase if I am really bad and eat 2 pieces, its still less than if I were to eat one regular size bar or bag. Plus, at the end of the day i see how many calroies, fat, etc. I have left and it helps me to determine what I can eat. Not depriving myself of the sweets that I love to eat has been a big help over the past few weeks.

try chewing gum. When all else fails I eat 100 calorie yogurt. If you dont have them in the house you wont know they are there and having to go to get them will make you think twice. It does me.

I was in your shoes as well, hell not even that long ago! Eat fruits and vegetables during the day. Seriously! Just by eating healthier foods I don't crave all the simple sugars and desserts anymore (except maybe for cake...I love cake). It's such a relief to not be bound by those things.

Yogurt is one of my favorite foods and you can get light, low fat, etc. Yoplait has a ton of different flavors. Frozen fruit is delicious. I've started eating a tablespoon of peanut butter on a piece of bread and I have no idea why but that actually helps curb my sweets cravings.

Lots of good advice here! With me, I do the following:

*find an herbal tea you like, (mandarin, berry, etc)

*gum (Extra Dessert Delights are great, I love the Apple Pie, Strawberry Shortcake, Keyline Pie flavors, 5 calories per stick and you burn 5 calories chewing every 30 minutes, so you can change up every 30 minutes to a fresh stick without a calorie impact---I do this at work too, seems to make the day go faster!)

*I am a big fan of the Weight Watchers/Skinny Cow ice creams...100-140 calories, depending on what you choose...you might have to try several varieties/types until you find a couple that really speak to you

*Greek yogurt (non fat fruit variety) is an excellent swap for ice cream, around 140 calories if you are an ice cream fan

And save some calories for "treats" each day if you know you'll want to have them.

Finally, stick to your calorie allowance! Good luck!

at night - oh boy, am i addicted to sweets. I try super hard to clear my mind of thinking of chocolate, cookies, cake, etc but then that is all i can think about and i will not be happy until i get a piece! any advice on how to override this way of thinking?!

I do 2 things and both have a good dose of fiber to keep me satisfied. The first is a Vitalicious Brownie. They are 100 cal with 6g fiber, 1.5g fat and 3g protein, and they ROCK! You can find them in the organic freezer section of your grocery store. The second thing I do is 1/2c (or more) Fage Total 0% Greek Yogurt and add about 8 drops of liquid stevia and 2TBS unsweetened cocoa powder and 1/2 chopped banana. It has 135 cal, 5g fiber 13g protein 1g fat. I actually mix this is large batches and refrigerate and freeze portions to have at the ready.

Good luck!

I just tried over the weekend making 73 calories chocolate cupcakes. They actually taste great and you're cutting down on the crap that make regular cakes so delicious and fattening. I figured it I can't kick the habit, I'll make something that hit my craving.

how exactly do you make them?

Makes 20-24 cupcakes
1-18.25oz Betty Crocker "Super Moist" Chocolate Cake (Mix Only)
1-15oz Libby's Pumpkin Pie Mix

Remember use the (Mix Only), no eggs, water or oil. The batter is thick, but it does rise to cupcake consistency. I also added 1 tbsp of Nestle chocolate chips apprx. 70 calories to cut some of the pumpkin flavor. Equaling 79 Calories. Going to test out other flavors, hopefully I'll have the same results!

Best of Luck :drinker:

Hartleys 10 cal jelly... if u want something very sweet caramel snackajacks 55cals!

Sugar free jellly, and fresh or tinned fruit, or.....if you have enough cals left, have a few!!

It is Mmmmm and it does fill you up with very little guilt :-)) I have real problems at night getting the munches even though I'm not really hungry just bad habit and mainly due to me not eating at regularly times of the day whoops :bigsmile:

*Dark chocolate 70-72%-give it a chance for a week or so and it will begin to satisfy you. It tastes weird at first but I love it now. I crave it at night but I wonder if it is keeping me up!
*sugar free jello is yummy
*skinny cow works for my sugarholic husband
*Quaker chocolate peanut butter chewy granola bars
*clementines love love these
*little grape juice
*real fruit pops
*dry cereal

I have all these textures on hand so I can readily choose the one I want for the day. GOOD LUCK FINDING YOUR HEALTHY FIX!!

Also, This recipe is amazing and tastes sooo good and sweet. It's still got sugar in it, but because your cutting out the flour it kinda even's itself out- as carbs turn into sugar!! Anyways, i make it, freeze it in individual portions and have it for dessert when I need a sweet fix.
Black Bean Brownies

Preheat oven to 350ºF.
9-inch square metal baking pan, greased.

Ingredients:
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 eggs
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- 2 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 ½ tsp baking powder

Directions:
1. In food processor, puree beans, eggs, oil and vanilla for 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth.
2. In a large bowl, combine sugar, cocoa and baking powder. Pour in bean mixture and stir until smooth.
3. Pour batter into prepared baking pan. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

Makes 12 brownies.

My major crave is choc. So I got dark chocolate chips...you can have 20 for 70 cals!!!