Signs your late-night snacking is sabotaging all your hard work of healthy eating and working out during the day.
When does late-night snacking come for you? Is it when the kids are in bed, you’re halfway through a TV binge, or you’re finally getting the ironing done?
However it gets you, the late-night snack attack is the boogeyman that can derail all your good work and healthy eating during the day.
Whether you’re more the packet of chips or the ice cream straight out of the tub type, we’ve all succumbed to late-night cravings. Knowing why we’re reaching for a snack is half the battle when it comes to breaking the habit.
Ask yourself these questions:
Are you eating enough during the day?
When you’re working through your lunch break, racing around running errands, getting the kids fed, washed and to bed (or taking care of your fur babies instead), before you finally get a chance to properly eat – it’s late, and you’re probably ravenous.
And when you’re ravenous, you generally don’t make smart choices on what you eat.
To break this cycle, focus on filling up with a protein-rich dinner and will keep the whole family happy.
Try to prepare your food the day before or even if you have time on the weekend, prep for the week ahead as much as possible. This will ensure you eat healthy foods on the days you are flat out and don’t get much time to focus on eating right.
Did the TV make you do it?
When mindless eating in front of the TV becomes the main villain derailing your healthy meal plan, it’s time to hit pause.
If your hands just need something to do, try folding the washing while you watch, or getting the your lunch ready for tomorrow (and lunch for the kids too -if you have any).
If you are genuinely craving something, turn the TV off, make a cup of tea and sit at the table to savour a healthy snack.
When you’re distracted by the TV screen, you’re less likely to recognise when you feel full or emotionally satisfied. You’d surprised how much marketing is on your fave show and even on the ads that gives you craving whilst you’re watching them.
Are you eating your emotions?
They don’t call it comfort food for nothing.
Do those chocolate biscuits represent a stressful day, sadness, frustration, anger or loneliness? To avoid adding snacking regret to tomorrow’s list of things to be upset about, think healthy emotions, healthy food.
If you really do need a special chocolate hit, look for a healthier option to to treat on, instead of reaching for the ice-cream or sugar filled cakes and chocolates.
If you do find yourself leaning on the fridge door staring into the light at 10pm, don’t beat yourself up about it.
But you know what your goal is – if you’re trying to lose weight, eating a late-night snack on top of your two snacks a day won’t help you achieve it.
So, if it’s nighttime when the cravings usually strike, try getting from breakfast to lunch without snacking and save your treat for before bed instead.
Beating the snack attack is not about depriving yourself, it’s just about making smarter choices.
By Tiffiny Hall founder of online health and fitness program, TXO LIFE
