One thing that has been helpful for me lately:
- Think about what types of snacks I can eat that are better choices than what I've had in the past.
- Make a list of what those are.
- Put the list where I'll find it easily.
- When I go grocery shopping, stock up on those items.
- When I find myself craving a snack, consult my list of planned snacks, and pick one.
In the past, when I've wanted a snack I've ended up eating stuff that was really bad, such as candy, sugary breakfast cereal, etc. Now, I
usually pick something from my planned list. This approach seems to be working for me.
Stuff I'm keeping on hand for snacking purposes:
- Raw carrots and celery. My grocery store sells them already washed and cut up, so I don't have that as a deterrent to eating them.
- Fresh fruit. Stuff I keep on hand: bananas, peaches, grapefruit, apples, pears
- Mixed nuts. I buy the mixes that have cashews, Brazil nuts, hazlenuts, and almonds.
- Yogurt.
- Unsweetened breakfast cereal. Just a handful of shredded wheat, without milk or sugar, sometimes satisfies my cravings.
- Bacon. I microwave a slice for 2 minutes. I drain it and give the grease to my cats after it cools off, and I eat the meat.
- Slice of whole-grain bread with peanut butter from the health food store (ie, less sugary than the big-name brands)