Thread: Healthy Eating Buster: NIGHT TIME SNACKING Do you do it?

I eat enough and balanced during the day. But as soon as the sun goes down Wham! I feel compelled to snack. Does anyone else struggle with this? Has anyone overcome this?

I've taken a look on the inside and asked myself if there are any underlying emotional eating issues. The anwer is "no." I am not any more stressed than the next girl, I exercise daily, eat pretty healthy, feel loved, blah blah blah, but after the best intentions during the day, I am surfing the fridge.

Usually, I'm pretty disciplined about everything else. This is driving me crazy...c:: Let's hear from you all.

Not a big night-time snacker but I'm usually starving before dinner and tend to pick at things not particularly good for me if they are around (ah, the siren call of potato chips). Brushing your teeth early may help.

F#$% yah I'm a super night-time snacker. Can't seem to crack it.

I've polled people about it before but curious to hear more suggestions.

I think the issue for me is one of energetics. I eat balanced enough during the day; I know the ratio & portion of protein/vegetables/grains that is appropriate for me.

However, my "office"(=sewing table, laptop, where I do most of my mental activities in the home) is in clear view of the kitchen at all times and pretty much next to it. Well, we live in a loft so everything is in view at all times. ;op

But I am aware that if the place where food is cooked and stored is right next to me, I am compelled to go there. Plus we are huge movie and downloaded series watchers, which we do at night. It's super habit to plop down with some munchies in front of the tube. ..c::

ALSO, I absolutely cannot go to bed on an empty stomach. Cannot get restful sleep if I am experiencing hunger at night. So that means that I have to eat something somewhat before bed so that I am not hungry.

conundrum...

Ask yourself if you're really hungry or just bored. If you're really hungry, eat or drink something healthy.

If you're bored, sew. That's what I do. I'm always beading and sewing stuff in the evening so there is no time for snacking.

Dude. There's snacking and then there's Night Eating Syndrome, which is what I have.

I always puzzled over all the advice I'd read about managing snack cravings... have a handful of pretzels, brush your teeth. WTH??? Obviously other people weren't experiencing the same smash-a-brick-wall-with-my-head-to-get-to-the-breakfast-cereal cravings *I* was having!!!

Anyway, I've posted about NES before, many times, so I'll just link to that page. If you have it, you'll recognize yourself.

http://www.bhuz.com/forum/fitness-be...uary-09-a.html

Seriously, finding out I'm dealing with a chemical imbalance and not just a lack of willpower made me feel sane again!

Originally Posted by Azhia

F#$% yah I'm a super night-time snacker. Can't seem to crack it.

But I am aware that if the place where food is cooked and stored is right next to me, I am compelled to go there. Plus we are huge movie and downloaded series watchers, which we do at night. It's super habit to plop down with some munchies in front of the tube. ..c::

ALSO, I absolutely cannot go to bed on an empty stomach. Cannot get restful sleep if I am experiencing hunger at night. So that means that I have to eat something somewhat before bed so that I am not hungry.

conundrum...

Ahzia, are you my twin?

Originally Posted by shahla

Ask yourself if you're really hungry or just bored. If you're really hungry, eat or drink something healthy.

If you're bored, sew. That's what I do. I'm always beading and sewing stuff in the evening so there is no time for snacking.

Of course I am not really hungry. A cup of tea or "handful" of anything doesn't do it. It only manages to open the door.
And I don't sew.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Dude. There's snacking and then there's Night Eating Syndrome, which is what I have.

I always puzzled over all the advice I'd read about managing snack cravings... have a handful of pretzels, brush your teeth. WTH??? Obviously other people weren't experiencing the same smash-a-brick-wall-with-my-head-to-get-to-the-breakfast-cereal cravings *I* was having!!!

Seriously, finding out I'm dealing with a chemical imbalance and not just a lack of willpower made me feel sane again!

Read your post in the other thread. I feel better calling it a syndrome instead of a bad habit. ..l;,

I didn't see anything about a chemical imbalance in your post though. I rarely have a problem getting to sleep and am usually nodding off by 9:30 or 10.

Keep the suggestions coming ladies.

I grab a bag o carrots and a big glass of water, or I eat crackers in bed. BUT I always put them in a bowl to control portions. If I'm still hungry I drink some more water and remind self "you're watching what you eat." Also, we don't buy chip stuff or cookie stuff, but always have fruit in the fringe. So if it's not in the house, I won't be tempted to drive to the store in my nightgown in winter!

I'm with Ezma on carrots and water. I usually try to drink a glass of water when I get hungry, and sometimes the feelings go away.

How about wanting to snack while watching TV? I put a fruit bowl in that room, within easy reach, and we also have some walnuts and pecans in the shell. It has really cut down on our "bad" snacking!

eat stuff you "borrow", high in fiber.there are foods that actually burn fat trying to digest.that said, avoid raw nuts, you will be awake digesting them.

Originally Posted by HOOKEDNOVICE

I didn't see anything about a chemical imbalance in your post though..

oh, I thought it was there. Shortage of neurotransmitters, mostly seratonin and melatonin. If you don't have the sleep component then you probably don't have it.

Oh boy... I admire ppl who can do the portion control thing. You know those nifty little containers of Pringles? Yeah, well I once ate all six of them in one sitting!

I find that what works best for me is just not have them around. If I really want something crunchy, I'll have some melba toasts, which I get bored of real quick. Same for chocolate. I'll have a chocolate pudding thingy once in a while, but I try not to have any around.

There's a Lindt outlet in my town. I go there only when I really need something to still the demons.

Like Ezma, if I snack I portion out my snack so I don't over-do it. I also try to keep some snacks that taste naughty but are actually nice like this tasty herbal popcorn that a local company makes & skinny cow ice cream treats or toffutti cuties.

Originally Posted by HOOKEDNOVICE

I eat enough and balanced during the day. But as soon as the sun goes down Wham! I feel compelled to snack. Does anyone else struggle with this? Has anyone overcome this?

I've taken a look on the inside and asked myself if there are any underlying emotional eating issues. The anwer is "no." I am not any more stressed than the next girl, I exercise daily, eat pretty healthy, feel loved, blah blah blah, but after the best intentions during the day, I am surfing the fridge.

Usually, I'm pretty disciplined about everything else. This is driving me crazy...c:: Let's hear from you all.

Can you give us an idea of what you are eating during the day?

Yes, but I also work nights and while I'm *trying* not to eat late, I get very hungry. At present I am actually eating a little less overall because I rise late, have a brunch, have something before I go into work (which is at four) and usually a snack around seven. It's hard not to eat later on.

I think it's the total calories that count, not necessarily when you eat them. I usually have a evening snack after dinner. And I eat breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack.

yes! the sweet tooth hits..someone once told me to drink water when i felt that craving and it works.. (yeah this coming from Ms raw cookie dough..well allowances for pms weeks :)

Yes I'm a big snacker period, day or night. With me I really don't eat much normal food. I have a trouble diet. Like today I woke up at 8am and didnt eat any thing tell 4pm which was a bag of Hot fries. Then I eat some Easter candy all day till about 9pm when I had dinner,, left over drum stick and left over chicken salad. Just now I ate half a pack of Now and laters, I'll finish them before bed Lol. I eat about one meal a day. I really need help

i eat ice cream sweet buns cookies every night. it's great!

if there's nothing i'll eat cereal straight from the box and then have some soya milk after.

Originally Posted by wingaki

if there's nothing i'll eat cereal straight from the box and then have some soya milk after.

I will admit to having dry cap'n peanut butter crunch last night as my snack, but I put it in a bowl, no out of the package eating for me!! you are funny wingaki, I've read some of your posts!! ..l;,

Originally Posted by HubicRuzz

Can you give us an idea of what you are eating during the day?

Today:

blue berries and oatmeal coffe w/ fat free half and half

skinny, non fat, sugar free latte (sometimes)

lunch: 1/2 pb sandwich, apple or other fruit

snack

dinner Caeasar salad w/ home made dressing (3-4 tblspoons) tomatoes and bell peppers in the salad. Sometimes I put a few shrimp or chicken in it

Great huh? Well; 8 o'clock hit and I had no sweets in the house (trying not to buy that stuff but have 2 kids) and found graham crackers and some frozen frosting in the back of the freezer. Had about 4 of those. grrrrr.

It's not that I feel deprived, I think it's a bad habit that has really taken hold. I should just go to bed and not sit on couch. It's a discipline thing. I know there are no "magic bullets." I was just looking for what has worked for others.

I found that if I double the size of my breakfast and adjust the calorie content for the remaining meals of the day, my evening "snack" urges diminished greatly.

The other thing that helps too, is to eat a bit of low fat cheese at night or roasted nuts...something with a higher (healthy) fat content. That tends to diminish the urge for me to snack-eat.

Just my two cents

I love to eat cereal in the evening before going to bed, I never have it for breakfast.
My mother does it, and my son does it too so I guess it is now a family tradition.

We don't keep snacks in our house at all. Which often ends up with both of us going to the fridge and cupboards opening them, looking in and saying "I wish there were snacks in this house!" late at night. We do try to keep nuts and fruit to munch on between meals.

But in the morning, I'm glad I didn't eat any of the bad snacky stuff!

A bannana...with a glob of peanut butter on the leading edge...and honey over all. How is that for raw and healthy? And only 700 calories, too!

Originally Posted by HOOKEDNOVICE

Today:

blue berries and oatmeal coffe w/ fat free half and half

skinny, non fat, sugar free latte (sometimes)

lunch: 1/2 pb sandwich, apple or other fruit

snack

dinner Caeasar salad w/ home made dressing (3-4 tblspoons) tomatoes and bell peppers in the salad. Sometimes I put a few shrimp or chicken in it

Great huh? Well; 8 o'clock hit and I had no sweets in the house (trying not to buy that stuff but have 2 kids) and found graham crackers and some frozen frosting in the back of the freezer. Had about 4 of those. grrrrr.

It's not that I feel deprived, I think it's a bad habit that has really taken hold. I should just go to bed and not sit on couch. It's a discipline thing. I know there are no "magic bullets." I was just looking for what has worked for others.

Keeping in mind that every body's requirements are different...just looking at this schedule it strikes me that a bit more (not a whole lot more) protein and fat is in order. I know I know, "fat" has a bad rap but your brain consists of fat, your tissues need fat. Fat in food helps you feel satiated, it flavours food, when consumed it lubricates your internal processes. Nuts, olive oil, flax seeds, etc. Often when a food is fat free they have to make up for lost flavour with added sugars, which will burn quickly and leave you wanting more. Fat also slows the speed with which sugar courses through your system, (which may cause you to feel high and then crash, needing more food for "energy").

**Note: It is 1:10am EST and I am, indeed, snacking b/c I am hungry. And I still eat lots of fat (nuts, organic butter, olive oil, etc.) so go figure ..c::..l;,

Originally Posted by HOOKEDNOVICE

I eat enough and balanced during the day. But as soon as the sun goes down Wham! I feel compelled to snack. Does anyone else struggle with this? Has anyone overcome this?

I've taken a look on the inside and asked myself if there are any underlying emotional eating issues. The anwer is "no." I am not any more stressed than the next girl, I exercise daily, eat pretty healthy, feel loved, blah blah blah, but after the best intentions during the day, I am surfing the fridge.

Usually, I'm pretty disciplined about everything else. This is driving me crazy...c:: Let's hear from you all.

I can go all day with no food, but I cannot go all night with no food. I believe that this is just me, and the way I'm made. There's all this talk of not eating at night, but it works for me. I simply cannot not eat when the sun goes down. Daytime, I don't feel the need to eat.

Originally Posted by anala

A bannana...with a glob of peanut butter on the leading edge...and honey over all. How is that for raw and healthy? And only 700 calories, too!

You ain't lived til you've had a Chinese Honey Bun from Ho's Bakery. And their Sweet Pork Buns are to die for.... Bananas? Shmananas!

My Mum's response to my cries of 'i'm hungry' when i was little was always 'are you dry bread hungry?'
there's genuine hunger and then there's eating for all the other reasons... women often have complicated relationships with food...

I do have a serious dry bread habit though now..!

Ha ha ha, I came across this thread just as I was about to go help myself to a bowl of cereal - and its 9:30pm. I am such a night-snacker, and damn it, I'm stayin' that way!!! It's a bit hard not to snack at night when you bellydance in the evening.

I've got better at moderating what I eat at night, though. I used to eat a full meal before teaching bellydance, then come home and eat another full meal at 10pm. Now, I try to eat something sustaining, like a big hunk of protein (such as fish) and veggies a few hours before class, so I'm not starving when I get home. A few nuts/fruit in the car on the way home. Then I make myself an enjoyable snack platter. A raw carrot, some cherry tomatoes, a hunk of low-fat cheese, perhaps a few dry biccies with hommous. It seems to hit all my body's cravings for protein/carbs/vitamins, and is suitably nibbly for eating in front of the telly. Maybe some low-fat yoghurt, too.

(I won't mention the chips or choccie, though!)