How often do you catch yourself after dinner thinking “I could really go something sweet?” I used to…a lot!
Snacking can be great for some people throughout the day to keep their energy levels stable, but when we snack at night and often we’re reaching for something sweet, it can add unnecessary calories to our daily intake. It can also spike your insulin levels just before going to bed. This creates a wave of energy that enters your cells and fires you up. Not quite what you need when you’re about to go to sleep.
So why do we feel the need to snack late at night?
Often it’s because we feel unsatisfied. Perhaps you’ve eaten dinner in a rush and not given yourself the time to notice it nourishing your body and stimulating your senses. Other times we simply haven’t eaten enough. This can happen when you’re being too strict with your diet. If this is the case, you may need to re-evaluate your dinner plate…consider adding some denser root vegetables (e.g. carrot, sweet potato, parsnip), pumpkin or some high-quality plant-based protein. However, the most common reason for late night snacking is habit. If this is you, some of the following tools might help to curb the late night snacking:
- Chew your food. Sounds simple, but truthfully, too many of us virtually inhale our food. Instead, take the time to really chew your food. Feel it forming tiny particles before you swallow. Even put your fork or spoon down between bites if it helps.
- Brush your teeth. The clean and fresh feeling in your mouth can be enough to prevent you from spoiling it with a late night snack.
- Sip on herbal tea. My favourites are organic peppermint or chamomile tea. If you’re transitioning from a sweet-tooth, add a half teaspoon of raw honey to peppermint tea. It tastes amazing, and peppermint tea post-dinner is also a wonderful digestive aid.
- Go for a late night stroll or do some yoga stretches. Light exercise can help reduce the desire to eat and can also be relaxing and rejuvenating. Bonus, you’ll burn energy instead of consume it.
- Wait 20 minutes to see if you’re actually hungry. If you are, choose something small and healthy, like some raw nuts, trail mix, or some berries.
- Distract yourself. When the battle of the late night binge begins, distract yourself with something pleasant. Cuddle a loved one, read a book, or take a long bath with Epsom salts – anything that will help you to satisfy your post-dinner cravings emotionally rather than with an additional sugary snack.
