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Late-night snacking is more powerful than Dracula suckling your blood, and it can make your new year's resolutions for a healthier lifestyle go up in smoke. Even if you're counting calories at breakfast, and planning to make a nutritious dinner later in the day, you won't be able to avoid the midnight munchies. But you're not alone! Dietitians have a term for this: the "nighttime munchies"!
Avoiding a late-night snack attack
One of the best ways to prevent late-night snack attacks is to practice healthy habits. Instead of reaching for your favorite bag of chips, try to find other activities that help you relax. Some of these activities may be as simple as taking a hot bath or pampering yourself. By doing these things, you will train your mind to not associate food with a reward. It will also help you get more restful sleep.
Avoiding prepackaged snacks
Avoiding late-night snacking is crucial to maintaining a healthy weight and quality sleep. The right diet combined with adequate sleep improves your body's function, and it also curbs your hunger hormones. Registered dietitian Julia Zumpano outlines what you should eat and avoid before bedtime.
Keeping healthy snacks out of sight
Healthy snacks are essential to eating a nutritious diet. But keeping them out of sight is not an easy feat. Many people who work at the kitchen table find it difficult to resist the temptation. Instead, they should try to avoid these temptations by bringing their own snacks to work. This way, they can keep them in their sight but out of reach.
Getting enough protein and fiber
Getting enough protein and fiber at night can help reduce the risk of night time snack attacks. Protein has been shown to help regulate blood sugar levels, which can help prevent the cravings. Furthermore, it may be important to drink plenty of water to prevent cravings and keep your body hydrated.
Avoiding salty snacks
If you find yourself craving salty snacks during night time, you may want to consider Replacing them with healthier alternatives. Popcorn, for instance, is an excellent alternative to potato chips or pretzels. Its low fat and complex carbohydrates make it an easy food to digest. Just make sure that you avoid butter and salty toppings. Eating too many high-fat, salty snacks will make it hard to fall asleep, so choosing healthier snacks will help you stay asleep.
Mindless eating
The best way to avoid a night time snack attack is to control your mindless eating. Studies show that people who are distracted while eating snack foods consume up to 600 calories a day. Trying to avoid this habit can seem like an impossible task, but there are some tips to help you curb your cravings.