Kick Your Late Night Snacking Habit

At the end of a long day all you want to do is put your feet up in front of the TV and nosh. But that late night snacking can undo the day's hard work and add unnecessary calories. In order to stop late night eating, you need to have a plan in place. With a few easy steps you can start to push that habit aside.

First things First:

We need to understand the difference between Hunger and Cravings People are constantly inundated with the sights and smells of food. It may sound obvious, but it is important to decide whether you are really hungry of if you're just craving a food you saw on late-night television. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is your stomach rumbling?

2. Will you eat anything, or do you want a particular food?

3. How long has it been since you ate?

If only a candy bar is going to do the trick to satisfy your urges then chances are it's just a craving. If your stomach is actually growling, it's likely hunger. Eat something small and healthy. If you don't satiate your hunger now, you may overeat later.

Routine If you are hungry late at night, chances are something is amiss with your daily routine. If you go too long between meals, your blood sugar crashes and you become desperate for food. Keep your energy levels stable by eating breakfast in the morning and having a meal or snack every 4 to 5 hours afterwards. Eat your dinner later and schedule a small snack for the early evening. By planning your meals, you'll avoid the late night urge to eat anything and everything.

Avoid Temptation Go through and inventory of your refrigerator and cabinets. Get rid of any of your trigger foods -- those unhealthy foods you crave and can't resist. Replace the junk with healthy foods such as baby carrots and hummus, air-popped popcorn or even some pre-made protein treats (see my recipes). If you do succumb to the urge to eat at night, at least you'll be noshing on something healthy.

Brush your teeth/use mouthwash

A good way to keep your munchies at bay is to always brush your teeth when you're itching for a snack that you know you shouldn't eat. Most people don't feel like eating right after they do this, especially since it makes many foods taste bad. Also try drinking a glass of water or tea (try decaffeinated if your headed to bed). This

Drink a glass of water

or a cup of unsweetened tea (maybe decaffeinated if its bedtime). Water helps take up space in the stomach, leading to a feeling of fullness and reducing hunger. A person may also think that they are hungry when they are actually thirsty. Drinking a glass of water before reaching for something to eat can help to curb unnecessary snacking.

Stay Busy Keep your mind off food by keeping your hands busy. Knit a sweater, call a friend or read a book. If you end up in front of the television, do pushups or situps during the commercial breaks. Better yet, interact with other people. Have a game night with your family or join a book club at the local library.

Sleep Most adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night to function well during the day. A study conducted by researchers at Columbia University found that individuals who are sleep-deprived ate up to 300 calories more per day than their well-rested counterparts. If you are struggling with late-night eating, move up your bedtime. Establish a routine to help you unwind before you sleep. Turn off the television, take a bath and keep the lights low.

Try to implement some or all of these tips to curb your nightly indulging. You may find all you need is just 1 or 2 of these tips will do the trick. No matter which tip(s) your decide to try out first, give it sometime and STICK TO IT! It's all about consistency ya know!!