Surviving Late Night Snack Cravings

It's the end of the night. Kids are in bed. You are ready to de-stress and relax (that is if you aren't cleaning up everything you didn't get to during the day.

Unfortunately, most stress cravings are not a salad with light dressing. It would be great if it were. And there is nothing wrong with having one cookie and calling it good. But sometimes the cravings are there and won't go away. So here are a few things to try out.

1) Drink water instead. I've heard that sometimes when you get cravings and want to eat, sometimes it's your body telling you that you need more water. You know what you've eaten (hopefully) and know whether you really do need food or if you just want to eat for eating sake. Drink some water to fill the void.

2) Brush your teeth. Don't wait until you are getting ready for bed to brush your teeth. Do it with the kids when they are brushing theirs. I tend to think a whole lot more about whether I want to eat something at night when my teeth are freshly cleaned.

3) Find a snack that will both fill your craving and be low in calories. If you really do enjoy salad, have one in the evening. Get a lighter calorie dressing and don't pack it with tons of calories. Or have a popsicle (homemade ones will have less sugar). If you really are craving something, enjoy a little something, not a lot of something.

4) Get busy. Do some cleaning, do a craft, read a book. Do something so you don't have time to snack.

Do you have any ideas for curbing those late night snack cravings?