Stop snacking during exams

I'm in the middle of exam period at uni, and as there is little to do except revision i have found myself constanly snacking!! it's sending my daily calories through the roof! ARGH! does any one have any ideas to stop me snacking through boredom or any ultra healthy snack options??

When i went to Uni, i chewed on stirr sticks the plastic kind.  It wasn't the most pleasant practice but it stopped me from putting food in my mouth.  It also gave me something to play with...lol.  I also sucked on sour hard candy.  Being an ex-smoker i needed that oral stimulation to get through the stress.  You can get sugar free ones but i found that the gave me the runs.

Good luck with your studies.  Sitting in that chair can be the worse.  Make sure you are making time for exercise to keep your brain sharp.  A 20 minute walk did me wonders when i went to go back to studying.  Things that i couldn't remember before seemed to stay put!

I couldn't go without munching through my last semester of graduate school, so here are things I found that were helpful for snacking a little bit better:

-Gum: Something to chew on with flavor, better than snacking on candy

-Hard Candies: better than soft, because they take a while to eat.

-Beef/Turkey/etc Jerky: protein and takes a while to eat if you get the tough kind

-HOT pepper slices: you can't eat them very fast and you'll need plenty of water with them.  For me Jalepenos are hot enough... get something that pushes your hot limits :)  This was actually my favorite, because it really got me drinking enough water!

-Grapes/Precut fruit: I didn't have the time to fuss with prepping fruit, so grapes and other bite sized fruit made nice snacks - and those pre-cut apples were nice to bring along.  I always felt oranges were too much fuss, but that's just me.

-Flavored low/no cal drinks:  Sometimes I just wanted flavor more than food - so those flavored carbonate waters were nice, as were crystal light on the go packs.

-Popcorn:  Not great, but better than some of the snack options (doughnuts, candy bars)

-Strong Mints:  (like Altoids) the little strong mints kept me from eating other things much the same way brushing your teeth does.

Other than snack options, just keep in mind that more time in doesn't always net more productivity.  It's always good to get a feel for when you'd actually get more done by taking a break, getting more sleep, and de-stress yourself.  

And good luck on your exams!

I chew gum and keep a bottle of water at my desk. Hopefully those two items are allowed at your school. Good luck with exams!

gah! I am exactly the same when studying.

The crunch of carrot sticks helps me concentrate but is a little annoying for those around me.

dry cereal is a good option- especially bran. takes a while to eat with your fingers and keeps you fuller for longer while studying....also made me thirsty so I would drink more (bonus!)

I also enjoy wasabi peas...but i think theyre fried :(

Frozen grapes and frozen yogurts are good too, obviously as the very first snacks.

This is a real problem for me keeping my calories under control- so i'd love to hear any more suggestions!

I do the cereal thing... eating slowly with my hands.  Right now I'm addicted to Trader Joe's Peanut Butter Puffins (tastes like PB Capn Crunch).  Only 110 calories for 3/4 cup... and it lasts for a bit if you eat them one by one.

I also pop the 100 cal bags of popcorn and eat one piece at a time... savoring each piece (love the kettle corn).

I find that eating slowly makes each snack last a bit longer, which is VERY helpful!

My first post on here ever but I think this is a good one for me... i'm doing my exams at uni at the moment as well and have exactly the same problem.  I tried to stop snacking altogether and just ended up feeling tired and convinced myself I needed a "sugar boost" to keep me on track with revision.

Then I saw the light and started drinking water (boring I know!) but it has really helped me. Every time I feel the urge to snack I just take a drink instead.  It's stopped me over-eating, I feel more awake and alert, the revision is sinking in better and I'm even loosing weight instead of gaining it as I was before!  I bought some of the small bottles of water and once they ran out I refilled them for easy storage in the fridge because I find it nicer to drink cold water.  It's also easier and more convenient I find - I can take them to my exams too!  Have been getting through over 2 litres per day and what they say is really true... it does wonders for you!!

I'm also studying. Right now infact... well. Very distracted.

I think most people can't help but snacking when they're studying. What helps me though is if I plan my study breaks. Like today, I woke up had breakfast, started studying at ten. Gave myself a half hour study break at 2 to make myself a tuna sandwich then studying again.

And if I get bored of studying I make a cup of tea or get a drink of water. Tea can be quite filling because its warm.

Need Brain foods...walnuts...3 whole ones a day. 

Avoid alcohol, bad fat, salt and sugar..sugar to me is a definite memory drain.

Get restful sleep..

I would sip water with honey, lemon, and a  few drops of Ginko boloba.

Iam in exactly the same situation as you. I love having a massive bottle of water beside me and a glass with a slice of lemon in it. when i get bored i just drink some water like i would eat a snack. it really works i dont really notice im doing it because im so bored if that makes sense. I have also become addicted to crackers. I think there a pretty light snack and really good! i have a tin beside me.

Im in the same boat as the rest of you guys!!! Studying for finals...revision, revision, revision!

In the morning, what helps me is having a proper breakfast...some cereal with semi skimmed milk, fruit, slice of wholegrain toast or all 3....depends on how hungry I am. I start the day as I mean to go on.  Having a good breakfast is the best way, i have found, to help kick late morning hunger and late afternoon hunger, the 2 times of the day when im starting to think about lunch and dinner! 

I always find time to exercise, at any time of the day, and make a point of getting away from the books for at least an hour. It helps me to concentrate more when I get stuck back into it.  Also, I make a point of having an hour to myself, whether it be to watch the tv, read a magazine, taking the time to shower...whatever.

Drink water all day long. I try to stay away from things that are high in sugar or caffeine as it hinders my sleep and makes me feel terrible the next day.  I have a bottle everywhere I go.  Sometimes I do need a sugar boost and lots of flavour and I will have the occasional bottle of fizzy drink.  Although most of the time I make do with blackcurrant or orange dilutable juice for water.

If all that fails, try something minty-its proven that mint helps concentration.  I love peppermint tea.  Its hot, minty, and lasts ages and it's very good for you and aids metabolism.  If you dont like that, try sugarfree gum, sugarfree mints or brushing teeth.  They all make food taste disgusting and deters me from eating.

Hope all this helps :)

courage for the all the exams :)

Try raw green beans or broccoli. They aren't as tasty as chips, but they fill the need to chew and swallow constantly, while having few calories.

popcorn! but make sure its the 94% fat free one from orville redenbacher or popsecret. It's 30 calories for one cup. So just 60 calories for 2 cups!!! its a very filling snack for me. 

Also 1tbsp of almond or peanut butter. I know its not alot, but it keeps me full for a while. It's around 90-110 calories depending on brand.

I snack on nuts, of any kind, cashews, pistachios, walnuts, peanuts. I notice it doesn't hinder my weight loss .

Popcorn is so-so. Depends on what's on it. It would have to be the plain lightly buttered kind. No carmel, or heavily seasoned kind

Harney & Sons Cinnamon tea. Tastes sweet like a dessert but it is just sweet from the cinnamon and other spices. Amazing. Also, nori (the sea weed squares you wrap sushi in) is 10 calories a sheet. I cut it up and snack on it.

I am also studying and I have to say that I think that water is the best. Usually when I feel that I need to snack, it's not that I am hungry but that I need a distraction. Therefore getting up from my desk, walking and filling my bottle again and having a small change of scenery usually kicks my urge to snack. If you do need to snack though veggies, nuts, raisins are full of good nutrients. That's what I stick to when the water doesn't work. Also I find that as son as I get home I feel the need to eat when it isn't around a meal time. That's when I find fruit or low cal- rice cakes as a great option.

I'm in exactly the same sitation and pretty bad with the snacking too, and this has been really helpful for me. One thing I find with snacking, is it's majorly because of bordom, I just venture downstairs and look in the fridge because I'm bored not hungry. I find if I listen to music whilst revising and have the urge to get up, I just get up and dance instead. Excersise instead of food to fix the bordom, best of both worlds!

Original Post by windrinre:

-HOT pepper slices: you can't eat them very fast and you'll need plenty of water with them.  For me Jalepenos are hot enough... get something that pushes your hot limits :)  This was actually my favorite, because it really got me drinking enough water!

OMG windrinre ur brilliant! i saw this tip today and decided to try it so i bought a jar of jalepeno pepper slices- i took one bite and had to down an entire cup of water.  fifteen minutes later my mouth was still burning slightly and i completely just didn't have an appetite for anything else.  thank u so much for this incredible advice!!!

Original Post by diva287:

Harney & Sons Cinnamon tea. Tastes sweet like a dessert but it is just sweet from the cinnamon and other spices. Amazing. Also, nori (the sea weed squares you wrap sushi in) is 10 calories a sheet. I cut it up and snack on it.

thanks for this suggestion diva287! This sounds like a great idea.  Drinks with sugar substitute taste rather unpleasant to me so I'm always on the lookout for something that tastes sweet, but is low-cal. 

Agh, I feel your pain, fizz_89! I finished my exams about 2.5 weeks ago, and I was in such a rut of horrible eating during that time. When I was being good, I relied on gum (LOVE sugar-free Orbit and Stride!), water, coffee with skim milk, a cup of regular Cheerios, SmartPop Kettle Corn (100 calorie packs!) or an apple (the crunchiness helps me to stay up late at night!).

During my horrible snacking times I fell prey to Full Throttle energy drinks (at least there are only 10 cals per can in the sugar free kind...?) and caramel corn.

The best advice that I can give you, though, is that it'll all be over soon!!! Best of luck!!

Original Post by mishelli:

Original Post by diva287:

Harney & Sons Cinnamon tea. Tastes sweet like a dessert but it is just sweet from the cinnamon and other spices. Amazing. Also, nori (the sea weed squares you wrap sushi in) is 10 calories a sheet. I cut it up and snack on it.

thanks for this suggestion diva287! This sounds like a great idea.  Drinks with sugar substitute taste rather unpleasant to me so I'm always on the lookout for something that tastes sweet, but is low-cal. 

Another super sweet tea is licorice tea! yum :) (if you like licorice...)