Late Night Snacking...

Diet Dilemma: Late Night Snacking

If I had a dime for every time I heard the following (sigh):  “I was so good all day, but then I couldn’t stop eating [fill in the blank] all evening.” Evening or late-night snacking can derail the most dedicated weight-loss efforts, but if this is your biggest dietary weakness, planning ahead will help to incorporate those snacks right into a healthy diet plan.

 

I know, I know...you're not supposed to eat past 6, or 7, or whatever.  If it doesn't work into your lifestyle, you won't be able to stick with it.  For example, many evenings, I work over the dinner hour.  It's too early to eat before I leave, and too late to eat when I come back, so should I just skip dinner?  No.  The trick is to plan out what your food choices will be, regardless of when you eat them, although if you let yourself get too hungry, you may find yourself grabbing for a bit too much food.  Below are a few tips to help you keep in line with later snacks or even a late supper.

 

1.  Plan your day.  Have the food ready to go in a Tupperware container, or pre-measured if you are following a specific plan. 

2.  Plan in snacks and enough protein to keep you satisfied, so you don't want to overcompensate at the end of the day.

3.  Make regular trips to the grocery store for fresh fruit and veggies, so you have them on hand for snacking, if necessary.

4.  Particularly easy this time of year, taking a walk in the evening after dinner can really help to keep you away from the snack foods.

5.  Stay away from "fluffy" white foods late at night:  bread, cookies, processed food, sweets, cakes--these should be in short supply in your home anyway, but particularly harmful when you ingest them at night!

Have a fantastic week!

Melissa

 

 

Melissa Abramovich

ACE CPT, NASM CGT, CPT,

AAHFRP Medical Exercise Specialist

"Excuses are the nails that build houses of failure"