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Your personal nutritionist
By Mary Hartley, RD
Director of Nutrition

How can I prevent unhealthy snacking?
Asked by anonymous on Jul 28, 2008 in Emotional & Behavioral Issues



I tend to snack on very unhealthy foods, like chips, cookies and ice cream, when I am bored. I can't stand it anymore, but how do I stop snacking when I have nothing else to do?


Answer

To prevent unhealthy snacking, keep junk food out of the house. Sweets are perfect for special occasions but not for everyday. Snacks should be eaten when you are hungry, but only need a bit of food, such as when bedtime is near or when you don’t want to spoil an upcoming meal. Healthy snacks should consist of small portions of wholesome food.  But there is a difference between snacking because you are hungry and snacking because you are bored or stressed.  "Bored" snacking calls for a non-food solution.  Read about techniques for managing stress and boredom from the Guides at About.com.



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