How do I avoid late night snacking?

Lots of us get snack cravings before bedtime and sometimes there's just nothing that will stop you getting that urge. I would suggest trying to work around it - if you're a late night snacker then its very hard to break that habit.

Lets do a little myth-busting first - its simply not true that late night snacks alone can cause you to gain more weight. A calorie is a calorie, no matter what time of day you consume it.

So eating late is actually not such a bad thing. Its OK to allow yourself to snack, as long as you have left yourself some leeway during the day by not over-eating.

Some snack ideas

I would make sure that you have some low calorie snacks around the house. Throw out the ice cream and cookies to start, and replace them with some healthy, low calorie snacks.

Here are a few of my favourite snacks to keep around the house. You can see more details on my low calorie snacks page.

• Low calorie bran muffin
  They're high in fibre and nutrients, and a really convenient snack for on the go. To cut down on preparation time, you can even make several batches and freeze them and dethaw as needed.
• Smoked salmon and multi-grain crackers
  These are really tasty snacks to eat between meals. They only take a second to prepare, they're very low calorie and they're great for your health too!
• Sweet potato wedges
  Sweet potato wedges are low in calories and high in vitamins and fiber. They're also very filling, which makes them a really great diet food.
• Fruit salad
  Cut up all your favorite fruits in a bowl - enough to last a few days. That way when you get a sweet craving you can easily grab a bowl.
• Boiled eggs
  An excellent source of lean protein and a very tasty snack to keep in the fridge for when you're peckish.

Another way to fill yourself up without too many calories is to mix sparkling water with some fruit juice (no sugar added of course!).

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