Posted Sept 23, 2009
HOW TO … CONTROL NIGHTTIME EATING
Late-night snacking has ruined many a diet or healthy eating plan. Here are tips from nutritionists on staying away from empty calories after dark:
Clean your teeth. Right after dinner, brush with mint toothpaste or swirl around some mouthwash. This can signal the brain that you’re done eating for the day and also reduce cravings for treats. If it helps, repeat this several times a night.
Close up the kitchen. As soon as you’ve cleaned up from dinner, turn out the lights, put all leftovers away and shut any doors.
Never starve yourself. Eating healthy meals and snacks throughout the day will curb hunger pangs at night. Some people do well with a small snack – an apple, for example, or a few crackers with peanut butter – an hour or two before bedtime.
Get busy. Nighttime binges often stem from boredom or loneliness. Instead of just sitting in front of the TV, take a walk, sign up for an evening class, take a bubble bath or call a friend.
Keep your hands busy. Pick up a hobby such as knitting, journaling, scrapbooking or doing crossword puzzles.
Go for liquids. Have a glass of water or a cup of decaffeinated herbal tea or sugar-free hot chocolate instead of food. If you must chew something, pop in some sugarless gum.
Purge your pantry. You can’t pig out on cookies and chips if they’re not in the house. Instead, keep lots of fresh fruits and vegetables on hand.
Have dinner later. If you regularly get hungry before bedtime, try moving dinnertime back a little if possible. Just keep it healthy and watch portion sizes.
Go to bed early. You can’t eat while you’re asleep.
Date: Sept 22, 2009