For the past few weeks, I’ve been extra dedicated to eating well. I’ve been counting my calories, I’ve been eating lots and lots of Jenny Craig food, and I’ve been trying my darnedest not to snack my way through the evenings.
Of the three things I mention above, counting calories is super easy. You eat it, you track it. Jenny Craig Foods: They’re delicious… so, no problem there. Not snacking at night: WHY IS THIS SO HARD??
There’s something about that after-dinner time… I want to eat EVERYTHING.
Notice: I didn’t say I’m hungry. I just WANT food.
Imagine me going through my refrigerator: It’s loaded with veggies, salsas, many bags of lettuce, and usually some fruit. That’s about it. Usually I have some sort of leftover veggie dish or soup in there too. When my “evening hunger” kicks in, I’m not looking for anything like this.
Next, I’ll open the freezer and look for something here. While I have Jenny Craig meals… that’s about it. Well, and frozen veggies and raw frozen meats. I always find it interesting that I’m not willing to make a time commitment to my snacking… I want food, and I want it now. Again, this is not normal hunger.
Then, there’s the pantry: I know, I’m a hoarder. I get it from my mom. Here lives dry pasta, canned foods, sauces, and a lot of baking ingredients. There’s really not much that’s grab and go here either. Sometimes I’ll go for a can of beets or green beans… but most times, I am not into that either!
And then… I get frustrated and desperate. These are the moments where I whip up a night-time waffle or eat some microwave popcorn with hot sauce, or I’ll eat a huge salad. Yes, a salad. I had one last night. My sister-in-law laughs at me for this because I complain I’m binging on salad. It could be much worse…
Bottom-line: When I’m done for the night, I need to be done for the night… and/or have on hand some things that can be satisfying to this crazy evening hunger.
This week, I’m going to try to do better in this area, because I know that it’s slowing down my efforts. And, I know it’s absolutely not about the food. It’s more about boredom, anxiety, some emotions that are running amuck… and I’ve got to call for reinforcements to tackle this. Here are a few things that I’m going to implement…
Honey Crisps – Are they not the best apple ever? When I have honey crisps on hand, I’ll slice one and snack on it before bed. I still get to eat something, but it’s not something crazy. The tart-sweet crispy crunch that comes with these guys is really satisfying to me as well.
Goodnight Kitchen – My friend Gail recently told me about a little trick she uses when it comes to night eating… and I think it’s brilliant. At the end of the night, once the dishes are clean and everything is put away for the night, she’s announce aloud “Goodnight, Kitchen” signifying the end of eating for the night.
While a simple concept, I adore it. Read Gail’s full post dedicated to saying goodnight to the kitchen. It’s pretty awesome.
Keeping My Hands Busy – I’m working on a pretty new hat for fall. If my hands are busy, they’re less likely to be stuffing food in my face. So, I’m going to commit to working on this hat every night this week!
Should keep me out of the kitchen AND help me get closer to wearing this cute little accessory!
Brushing and Flossing Early to Mark the End of the Night – This tip is one I’ve used before, but had forgotten about its effectiveness until Nicole reminded me the other night. I’m going to start brushing and flossing after my evening snack/dessert. Another way to “say goodnight” to my kitchen.
How do you curb your nighttime hunger? I could use all the tips these days…