Afternoon munchies...

[Guest guest]

I've seen that a lot of us have difficulty in the evenings. AOL has this

heath section that recommends the following for dealing with snacks. It's a

cool reminder...

Keep a snack diary.

Do you crave a snack because you are bored or because your blood sugar

has dropped? Is the craving hormonal, situational, or merely a habit you need

to break? Determining why you feel the urge to snack requires taking a good

look at your diet and daily activities and figuring out what's causing your

need to snack. Kostas suggests keeping a diary for a week and note the times

and locations of your snacking urges.

Plan your snacks in advance.

Fran Grossman, RD, a nutritionist at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine

in New York, says planning your snacks for the day helps improve or change

your eating habits. A healthy diet includes snacks low in calories, fat, and

simple sugars. Non-fat plain yogurt with a slice of fresh fruit or a cup of

clear soup between meals can keep your energy levels up and keep you from

overeating at meal times, says Grossman.

Try sour or spicy snacks, not sweets.

Kill your candy craving by eating a sour pickle or drinking a tall glass

of water. Kostas says spices like cinnamon and ginger sprinkled on fruit can

also curb your sweet urge. Gargling with a strong mouthwash will instantly

ruin the taste of even the most tempting snack.

Carry healthy snacks with you.

Make your snacks ahead of time and carry them with you. Kostas encourages

packing snacks in plastic bags and keeping them in your purse, car, office,

and workout bag. That way you are less tempted to hit the vending machines.

Combine protein with carbs and fat.

Kostas recommends her PCF strategy: combining a protein, carbohydrate,

and fat for a healthy energy boost. Combinations like apple slices with

peanut butter and raisins or a bagel bite with cheese work well together.

Distract yourself with a walk.

Instead of reaching for a candy bar, do something to distract you from

the craving. Kostas suggests going for a walk, calling a friend, popping in a

movie, or reading a book. Any activity that will capture your attention and

absorb your interest can divert you from giving in to an unplanned snack.

Try hot drinks or ice tea.

Kostas says a hot drink like sugar-free cocoa or coffee with low-fat milk

can be very satisfying. So can a cold drink like ice water with a twist of

lemon or ice tea with artificial sweetener.

Healthy, pre-planned snacking can be a positive way to shed pounds and guilt

along the way.

It makes sense, even if I did get it on AOL <g>.

-Crys-

(Lifetimer since August 1995)

WW to date: 178.6/ 138.6 / 140   (-40.0)

Weight in 2003: 139.6 / 138.6 / 130 (-1.0)

I'm not crazy; I'm just a little unwell.

I know, right now you can't tell.

But stay a while and maybe then you'll see

a different side of me.

I'm not crazy; I'm just a little impaired.

I know, right now you don't care.

But in a while you're gonna think of me,

and how I used to be.

Matchbox 20