What do you do to not eat late at night?

My nemesis has always been a late night snack of ice cream... Oh.. yes.... Ice cream and I have gotten to know each other really well. It didnt matter what time it was - day or night, it was the right time for ice cream.

Well, I haven't tasted ice cream in over a month now and honestly, I dont miss it (at least not for about 4 1/5 weeks).

I do, however, still occasionally get the urge to snack at night. What do you do to get through that late-night-snack-before-bed-time?

I had thought about trying some tea (sleepy time at night is my favorite) or some fruit.

Your thoughts?

I know this might not suit your palate, but I have a few drops of hot sauce--I found that I was craving something to taste, not to eat, per se... I like my food *VERY* spicy, so I have several of what I jokingly call "masochistic" hot-sauces in the fridge, all of which are 6 calories or fewer per serving... so I just take one of the bottles out, pour a drop onto my finger, have that, repeat a few times.. then I still feel a little hungry, but I have a big glass of water to wash down the sauce, and within 20 minutes I stop craving anything.

Salsa could also work--it's usually about 45 calories per tbsp, so just scoop a teaspoon in and take a bite of your favorite salsa (I buy hot because, as I said, I like my food masochistic-spicy, but medium or mild would work just as well) and wash it down with 8 or more ounces of water... a teaspoon isn't very many calories, and it's all veggies anyway, and often, late-night cravings are a result of dehydration, not hunger, so the water smooths it all out. I've heard spicy foods in moderation (i.e. up to your tolerance level) are good for the metabolism, and at any rate, it makes you thirsty so you drink the water, which is what, most likely, your body actually needs when you get those cravings, but it's not salty or full or calories... I've been doing this for a while and haven't needed a late-night snack beyond that in weeks.

Don't know if you'd like this solution, but I figured I'd share! :)

This was probably the hardest part for me too, avoiding that late night, last minute snack.  I didn't cut it out completely, I just start first swapping out that snack for something healthier (a banana or a yogurt that was high in fiber and protein) but still sweet. I then started slowly making the time I ate that snack earlier and earlier, like, for one week ate it 15 minutes before bedtime, the next week 30, etc.  Till I scaled it back to a more reasonable time without feeling deprived of that late fix.

I haven't made these in a while ....... but this is what I like for late night snacks. I buy Graham crackers and Fatt free cool whip. I break the big piece on the dotted line and spread the cool whip on it. Make it a sandwich, wrap in it saran wrap. I make a whole box at a time and keep them in the fridge door. It tastes like Ice cream once it freezes and the cookie is easy to bite into w/o making a mess. You can eat this in bed. No crumbs. LOL

I brush my teeth and use mouthwash! Sounds stupid but once I've done that, I'm not in the mood to eat anything after for 2 reasons: 1) I like the fresh feeling and 2) everything tastes bad after mouthwash... it works for me! 

Original Post by missielynn:

I haven't made these in a while ....... but this is what I like for late night snacks. I buy Graham crackers and Fatt free cool whip. I break the big piece on the dotted line and spread the cool whip on it. Make it a sandwich, wrap in it saran wrap. I make a whole box at a time and keep them in the fridge door. It tastes like Ice cream once it freezes and the cookie is easy to bite into w/o making a mess. You can eat this in bed. No crumbs. LOL

That sounds like a good solution. I think I will try it. My problem is that I go to school until 9:00 at night. I rush after work to get a quick dinner (usually Lean Cuisine) in before school starts (at 6:00) and then have a quick snack, usually a slim fast bar, while at school. By the time I get home at 9, I am hungry again! Having the graham cracker and some water might help.

I haven't ever been much for spicy food so I dont know how well the hot sauce idea would work for me, but it's something to keep in mind.

 

 

I normally go for fat free sugar free ice cream, SO GOOD, or I have one of those 100 cal pack popcorns, they come with a lot and tide me over well!

Ice cream at night is my total downfall too... especially when I sit there and watch my fiance down half the carton of Breyers (my fave!)

Instead, I will down cans of seltzer water. Finish one, open another.  But if it gets real bad, I will brush my teeth so I won't eat anymore. 

If I have a few extra calories, I might grab one of those 60 cal Jello Puddings. 

I'll go with a cup of non-decaf green tea when I want something "comforting". When I get that craving for ice cream (which was my nightly snack of choice too) I'll have a Yoplait Light Fat Free Yogurt - they are sweet enough to satisfy that sweet tooth normally. When I REALLY just want ice cream, I indulge myself by slowly eating one scoop of my favorite or having a Skinny Cow ice cream sandwich.

Hope you get some helpful ideas!! Good work - keep it going.

I drink as much water as I can stand - fills me up quickly - then go brush my teeth. Even though you could always brush your teeth again, eating right after you brush just seems wasteful!

If you're craving something specific, use some ol' will power and bear through the craving. (It gets easier over time.) But, if you really need to refuel, then grab a fork - just watch the calories. Since your metabolism is at its slowest at night, it's even more important to stay away from high-sugar high-fat snacks, like ice cream.

 

Sugar Free fudge pops are only 50 calories each, and there are some fruit bars that are about the same (Welch's maybe?)   I always have to end the day with something sweet, or I'll just sit there and think about how terribly deprived I am :)

Last night I dipped baby carrots into garlic/aeoli mustard ... the mustard and carrots are super low in cals... it helped me I also had some plain non fat yogurt just a few spoonfuls satisfied me and kept me away from crackers

Don't think about it and don't do it..... FOOD. LOL. I try not to eat after 6pm as it just sits there in my gut. Now of course, I do, now and again have foods after 6, but try to keep it very light. A yogurt, handful of berries, or something like that. It's not the time to be having a 350 calorie snack!

sugar free jello

Congeals in about 30 minutes in the freezer if you stir it a couple of times. 

When I get hungry late at night, I go to bed.  I've been getting up earlier to get my exercise in so that I don't have to think about it anymore for the day.  This way, I'm not eating and still getting my sleep in.

If I have enough self control to wait until it's ready then I will look at my food analysis and see what I'm short on for the day (i.e. protein or fiber for me usually):

-hot tea usually does the trick.

-4 Egg Whites & a tsp super hot sauce (63 cals & good protein)

-1/2 cup fiber one with 1/4 cup water & 1/4 cup soy milk (90 cals & good fiber)

 -15 frozen grapes (30 cals, 6g sugar, and yummy)

-1/4 cup fat-free ricotta cheese & 1 tsp sugar-free raspberry preserves (50cals & yummy)

-One of my protein concoctions (if you need protein like I do lemme know I have a ton of recipes for protein powders, lol)

If its late night, just force yourself to go to sleep, or go back to sleep. Its all will power. If you want to you could say "NO" to food.

I had the same problem last year, so I started keeping grapes in the freezer.  When I wanted a snack at night, I grabbed a handful and it was like eating mini popsicles!

Also, it helps to eat at regular intervals throughout the day.  Maybe you should make your snack during school something more substantial than a Slim Fast bar.  Add some fruit or baby carrots or something to eat a lot with it, and it will keep you fuller for a longer period of time.  Then when you get out of school, you won't be so hungry, and you won't be tempted to pig out on something like ice cream.

One of the problems could be that you're tired.  If you're working all day and then going to school until 9pm, you might just be tired and dehydrated.  When I worked nights, I was always eating - especially junk food.  :( 

I would say make sure to drink more water, especially in the afternoon/evening, and make your dinner and/or school snack more substantial.  Get some good protein and/or fiber to help you stay full.

If you have to have a snack (and have the calories for it), I have found that if I go to CC and log my calories for a snack, then eat only that snack, I'm okay.  If I just go to the kitchen and start eating, I'll eat way too much. 

If you don't have the calories to spare and don't want to cheat, just do something else.  When I want a snack, if I can make myself get my mind off it for 15 minutes, the craving passes.  I play a computer game, clean something, take a shower, read a magazine...anything to stop thinking about food. 

I know this isn't an answer to your question. But for info to others that read this. I go ahead and eat at any time of day or night.. but I count it. And I still lose 1 Lbs a week. I started at 190 about 12 weeks ago and now at 178.

I will sometimes wake up in the middle of the night starving and then I have a bowl of cereal at about 250cals for the cereal plus 2% milk. I count this towards my allowance of 1500-1800 depending on my goals for the week.

Like others, I have heard about teas, fruits and veggatables. But I try to eat the last portion of my calories right before bed to make sure I don't wake up and eat when I am less controlable. lol.

yup, i eat whenever I feel like eating too: day or night. I just make sure to account for it.