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HOW TO ... CONTROL NIGHTTIME
EATING
Late-night snacking has ruined
many a diet or healthy eating plan. Here are tips from
nutritionists on staying away from empty calories after dark:
Clean your teeth. Right after
dinner, brush with mint toothpaste or swirl around some
mouthwash. This can signal the brain that you're done eating
for the day and also reduce cravings for treats. If it helps,
repeat this several times a night.
Close up the kitchen. As soon
as you've cleaned up from dinner, turn out the lights, put all
leftovers away and shut any doors.
Never starve yourself. Eating
healthy meals and snacks throughout the day will curb hunger
pangs at night. Some people do well with a small snack — an
apple, for example, or a few crackers with peanut butter —
an hour or two before bedtime.
Get busy. Nighttime binges
often stem from boredom or loneliness. Instead of just sitting
in front of the TV, take a walk, sign up for an evening class,
take a bubble bath or call a friend.
Keep your hands busy. Pick up a
hobby such as knitting, journaling, scrapbooking or doing
crossword puzzles.
Go for liquids. Have a glass of
water or a cup of decaffeinated herbal tea or sugar-free hot
chocolate instead of food. If you must chew something, pop in
some sugarless gum.
Purge your pantry. You can't
pig out on cookies and chips if they're not in the house.
Instead, keep lots of fresh fruits and vegetables on hand.
Have dinner later. If you
regularly get hungry before bedtime, try moving dinnertime
back a little if possible. Just keep it healthy and watch
portion sizes.
Go to bed early. You can't eat
while you're asleep.
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