3 tips you can use TONIGHT to curb late-night snacking
Kids are in bed. Kitchen has been cleaned. Netflix is cued.
Enter the snacks. You’ve had dinner a few hours ago, but something sweet, or crunchy, or creamy just sounds so good.
Sound familiar?
Late night snacking is one of the biggest struggles my clients face.
"I'm good ALL day, and then after dinner I eat everything!"
"Some days I don't have energy to cook after work, so I'll stop and get shitty fast-food, which opens the floodgates for more junk later in the night!"
"Even after I'm done eating and feel full, I want something sweet."
If you were like "YES THAT'S ME!" to any of these scenarios, you aren't alone. These are actual quotes from previous clients, and lesbereal-- I've totally experienced these situations before.
Is it because you're weak with no willpower? No, babe. A lot of the willpower and decision-making "space" in your brain has been used throughout the day-- ever notice that you are more susceptible to caving when you've had a particularly stressful day?
There is nothing "wrong" or "bad" about indulgence, or even the food itself! If treating yourself to some wine and fancy chocolate after the kids go to bed is something you look forward to all day, go for it! Or maybe it's watching Netflix with your partner and enjoying some popcorn at the end of the day to unwind and connect. What we are addressing here is unintentional snacking, and the guilt you feel after.
And there is nothing magically "fattening" or "worse" about eating food late at night. Your body doesn't have an alarm clock to decide that the calories coming in will become fat, unless there was an excess of calories throughout the day.
Try these strategies for (unwanted) late night snacking:
1. Don't keep the tempting, easy-to-overeat foods in the house.
Or, if you MUST have it, put it somewhere you can't see it.
2. Brush your teeth after dinner.
Ain't nothing taste good with minty toothpaste.
3. Include protein and fat at dinner.
These foods are not only good for you, but help keep you fuller longer and make you feel satiated.
What tips do you use to keep you from unintentionally snacking late at night?
3 tips for late night snacking
don’t keep temptation in the house
brush your teeth after dinner
include protein and fat at dinner
