How To Curb Your Cravings At Night

Do you sometimes sneak a late-night snack, even after you’ve had a big dinner? Or worse, do you find yourself binging at night?

Typically, nighttime snacking is associated with mindlessly eating potato chips, candy, cake, and other high-calorie snacks. That usually means you're eating more calories than your body needs. Those extra calories add up quickly and lead to weight gain over time.

Late-night snacking is one of the biggest mistakes people make when dieting. You exercise regularly, and each day, you choose healthy options from breakfast to dinner. But then comes the rumbling tummy, and the sudden snack attack and there goes all your hard work. Thankfully, there are ways to stop cravings at night.

Tips to curb nighttime cravings:

Identify the cause

Some people eat most of their food late in the evening or during the night. To change this habit, you need to identify the cause of the problem. Night time eating may be the result of overly restricted daytime food intake, leading to ravenous hunger at night. It may also be caused by habit or boredom.

Don’t skip meals

Eat three square meals and one or two healthy snacks per day. Skipping a meal leads to late-night hunger, unhealthy snacking, and slows down your metabolism.

Drink water

Did you know your body can mix up hunger and thirst cues? One of the easiest ways to stop cravings at night is to hydrate! When you feel the urge to sneak into the pantry and pull out the chips, try drinking two or more cups of water. Another great option is to make a cup of herbal tea, which can relax you enough to forget about food altogether.

Plan ahead for a healthy snack

Schedule an hour after dinner to eat a healthy snack to diminish stronger cravings later at night. Don’t always wait until you feel hunger pangs. That’s when people tend to binge. Keep unhealthy snacks out of sight. The concept of “out of sight, out of mind” can curb the desire to eat junk food. If you crave a specific unhealthy snack, keep it off your grocery list and out of the house.

Brush your teeth

If you feel an impulse to grab an unhealthy snack at night, brush your teeth. This sends a psychological signal to your brain that you‘re finished eating and are preparing for bed. Also, food doesn’t taste as good after brushing your teeth. Most people tend to eat out of boredom at night, so brushing your teeth after dinner can prevent mindless eating.

Night eating typically is a response to either boredom, stress, or just out of habit rather than from true hunger. Consider asking yourself the following questions before eating: Am I hungry? Am I thirsty? Am I tired? Am I bored? AmI sad?

Of course, sometimes we need more to help us work through deep-seated emotions, hormonal imbalances, and stress management. If this is true for you – if you’ve tried these tips and tricks and are still struggling then its best to consult with your doctor.