Hungry After Dinner?

After dinner, I feel peckish. I just want that sweet little something, a chocolate biscuit, sweets, ice cream or a chocolate bar.

The after dinner snack can be a dangerous habit. So here are someways to break the habit or make it work for you.

1. Shortly after dinner drink a large glass of water
A big glass of water might be what you are craving instead, thirst signals are often misinterpreted for hunger. If anything it will help you feel full and less likely to grab that snack

2. Make a herbal tea
Herbal tea, low calories and full of antioxidants teas are good for you. In this situation they will keep your hands busy. Get a teapot, use leaf tea, boil jug, steep, strain the loose leave and drink….ahhhh. There are lots of fruit flavored herbal teas that can give a hint of sweetness with no sugar.

3. Change your after dinner activity
Do you blob in front of the TV straight after dinner, or like me do you head straight for the computer? Both these activities trigger the snacking instinct for me. Take a walk after dinner, have a soothing bath or lay your clothes out for the next day. Just find a small task that will take 15 minutes or so to divert you from the habit of snacking

4. Budget Calories for after dinner
If you really like the after dinner snack then don’t each as much for dinner and leave some calories for later. If you cant stay within your desired calorie intake there’s no reason why you can’t have a little something, just keep the next idea in mind.

5. Choose a healthy option
Reduce the sugar and saturated fat content of your after dinner snack. Fruity low fat yogurt can be creamy and sweet but low in calories. Try sugar free jelly or some grapes, dried apricots or a small handful of raw almonds.

6. Switch to 6 small meals a day
Lots of people recommend 6 meals a day to keep your metabolism going (and you feel like you are eating all day!). Schedule the last meal after dinner, just keep an eye on the calories, remember its 6 meals, not six FULL meals. Also each meal should be mostly balanced within itself. The sixth should not be 300 calories worth of chocolate. Try to get some protein in there too.