Beat Your Nighttime Cravings

Diet & Fitness: Nutrition: Guilt-Free Snacking

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Nighttime food cravings—they’re the bane of the dieter’s existence. Though resolved to eat healthy, sensible meals during the day, MSN Health & Fitness readers report being overwhelmed by the urge to binge on sweets and snacks between dinner and bedtime. For many, winding down at the end of the workday means indulging in fat- and sugar-laden comfort foods in front of the television—and waking up the next morning to feelings of guilt and frustration. Here, readers share their tips for combating nighttime cravings and keeping their diets on track.

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Start by filling your house with only healthy snacks that will help if you really crave a snack because the only thing that will be available will be healthy for you. Another thing, you might have to look and see how well you are eating throughout the day, because that could be another reason why you crave so much at bedtime. … Also why not distract your mind a little bit by putting some of your favorite slow music to listen to as you are about to go to bed so that you feel relaxed? Music will always take you to another place.

—posted by ladyk

I find that it really helps to have something crunchy to snack on. Carrots, jicama, and bell peppers are always good choices as well as fruit. I try not to eat anything other than veggies or fruit after 8:30 p.m. unless I am absolutely starving. Also, some hot tea or sugar-free cocoa helps. … When I snack at night I always try to ask myself if I really am hungry and usually I am not.

—posted by Annika

I drink some green tea. It helps curb my craving for something to eat. It also helps to speed up your metabolism. Tastes pretty good too when sweetened with Splenda. Give it a try.

—posted by Big John

Eat lean protein as your last meal before bed. It'll fill you up and hopefully will keep you asleep. My favorite is tuna fish with nonfat mayo or Egg Beaters. This with lots of water and veggies will help. Stir-fry works wonders too.

—posted by someday6pack

I also like sugar-free Jello and sugar-free pudding made with fat-free milk. My thing is dessert. I LOVE dessert. And it’s all so mental ... I have to have something. I usually go for Jello and fruit or pudding and a bit of fat-free Cool Whip. Mmmmm ...

—posted by fieryred

Go through the cabinets and get rid of cookies, chips, high sugar/highly processed foods, etc. Stock your refrigerator with sliced vegetables and fruits ready to snack on. Also, you can snack on moderately small amounts of nuts like almonds, peanuts and pistachios. Other easy snacks you can also have moderate amounts of are raisins, dried cranberries and dried blueberries. If you feel the need for chocolate, eat small amounts of dark chocolate.

—posted by osucowboy

Get in the mindset that food really isn't that exciting. If you're not expecting eating to be enjoyable, you won't really miss the fatty, sugar-filled foods you used to eat. If eating is one of the highlights of your day-to-day life, you need to find something else to fulfill your interests. Indulge in more sleep or more time to perfect your skills in whatever you enjoy doing.

—posted by smellerkeller37

The best, most healthy options I've found are low-fat mozzarella cheese sticks (80 calories, lots of calcium and protein), non-fat yogurts, almonds (for a good protein/fat mix) and protein bars (like Luna or Balance). With the protein bars, I'm careful to select only the ones with lots of protein. Having the protein helps me from feeling hungry longer. Also, drink lots and lots of water, herbal teas, etc. I've read that sometimes you think you're hungry, but actually your body is just thirsty.

—posted by ThinkSpring

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