How many times has this happened to
you? You were good all day, made great healthy food choices, and even went to
the gym. You’re excited and feeling proud of yourself, then BAM…late night
snacking ruins it all. A sweet tooth or craving for a salty crunchy treat can
undo all that careful planning and calorie counting. Who is to blame, Mother
Nature, weak restitution, or that second glass of wine? If you are like me it
may even be a combination of all three, or something else entirely. So what can
you do to battle these personal diet demons? Luckily there are loads of low
calorie options to help you satisfy your cravings without expanding your love
handles.
If you crave sweets before bed try grilled peaches with
honey and fat free whipped topping, sorbet, sugar free chocolate pudding, Greek
yogurt with fresh fruit and honey, angel food cake with strawberries, or even Special K®
Chocolatey Delight Cereal.
Links to low calorie sweet snack recipes:
If you are more of the salty crunchy type I suggest trying
some cheesy kale chips (super quick and easy to make at home also), spicy
pumpkin seeds, popcorn sprinkled lightly with brewers yeast, Edamame,
pretzels with hummus, some low fat string cheese, pickles, or cucumbers with
Tabasco.
Links to low calorie salty snack recipes:
* http://www.shape.com/healthy-eating/diet-tips/snack-awards-2011-20-best-low-calorie-snacks
Bust your diet destroying cravings with any of these snack
choices, they are all between just 120 and 150 calories per serving. Beware though, even the
best choices can add up if you don’t mind your serving sizes and watch your
portion control. I suggest measuring out the suggested serving size in a separate
dish, then seal and put the package away before enjoying your snack. You are less
likely to binge eat if the bag isn’t easily accessible on the couch next to you.
Hopefully that walk back into the kitchen will give you the chance to think
about the ramifications to your waistline of that snack refill. I am an
emotional snacker personally, and I sometimes go back and forth between craving
sweet and salty in the evening. If you are like me, it’s important to be extra
mindful of munching on
the couch if you are watching TV because it can lead to mindless or addictive snacking.
To prevent becoming a couch binger, I find it helpful to
engage in some self-distraction techniques while watching TV. On commercial
breaks I get up and do some pushups or sit-ups, fold laundry, or dust the
living room. Doing something productive while watching your favorite shows can
be “win win” for you and your health goals. Chores get done and your hands are
too busy to reach for those chips. Self-restraint is always the best
option, but we are all human and we all moments of weakness when our cravings
or that extra glass of wine cloud our judgment and we reach for that late night
snack.
The key is to stick to low calorie
options and mind your portion control so you can have a little treat without
ruining the entire day of healthful decisions. When all else fails I go for a walk. It gets me out
of the house, away from temptation, and it burns calories. I hope you found these tips helpful and I
would love to hear from you if you have found some great low calorie snacks or have
tips of your own that you would like to share.
Nutrition Evolution Links:
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