7 Tips to Avoid Nighttime Munchies

Hi Everyone!  Who gets those nightly cravings?  Raises hand.  They have a way of creeping up on you.  I can absolutely relate as I look in the freezer for some ice cream too!  Here's my 7 tips I use that help to avoid these cravings.

1. Clear out your cabinets and refrigerator. If you don't have tempting snack foods sitting in your pantry, you can't indulge.  Even if a snack seems to be "good for you" -- healthy foods can still result in weight gain if you haven't included these foods in your calorie count each day.

2. Ask a family member or friend to keep you honest.  If you get hungry an hour after dinner, buddy up and ask someone to hold you accountable.  Maybe they will talk with you on the phone if they don't live with you.  Or go for a walk with someone until the hunger subsides.

3. Stick with a plan. If you are skipping meals like breakfast or lunch, you will be hungry at night as your body tries to compensate for the missing calories.

4. Slow down when you eat. It takes time (about 15-20 minutes) for your brain to get the message from your stomach that you are full.  Put your fork down every few bites to help slow you down.  Chew your food well, and sip water or another calorie-free beverage.

5. Drink water before dinner. Filling up on water will help you control your appetite.

6. Start meals with a soup or a salad. The water content (and the fiber in vegetables) makes you feel more satisfied, so you'll eat less of the main course.  I like to keep bagged salads from the supermarket in my refrigerator vegetable bin, so I always have a fresh salad to use at mealtime.  Be sure to wash and bagged salad or vegetables to make sure they are clean prior to eating them.

7. Sip flavorful herbal tea. There are many varieties of decaffeinated herbal tea -- blackberry, acai-mango, orange-tangerine, apple-cinnamon, lemon-ginger -- that really calm hunger pangs and leave you feeling satisfied.  You can get packages of herbal tea that contain several different types.  You can drink herbal tea hot or iced.  Add a squeeze of lemon, lime, or orange to give it more zest.  Think of it as a no-calorie desert that you can have anytime!

Try any or all of these 7 tips to help avoid the nighttime hunger!  They will absolutely help you as they have helped me!  Let's alleviate those late night eating habits.  Close that kitchen at 7PM!  For more tips, recipes, and workouts, join my community at deniseaustin.com/join-now!

Love always from Your Personal Trainer,

Denise