Here’s my dilemma, the afternoon snack. I do very well with breakfast and lunch, even if I get my workout done at 5:30. It’s the afternoon snack that gets me. There are lots of reasons, I just got home from work and am half brain-dead, I’m hungry, and I’m alone.

What do you guys do when you’re in this situation? I eat enough breakfast and lunch, so that’s not the problem. It’s all mental, I zone out.

Help, please?!?

Thanks,
Bree

Bree, what is your concern about the afternoon snack. That you feel you shouldn’t need/want one, or that you make the wrong choices?

This is where I binge, if I binge. I stop paying attention, and just eat. It was bad last week with Aunt Flo here, and during that week is when I undo the rest of the month’s work. It’s bad. One day I had 1,000+ calories before I realized what I was doing. Darn Ho-ho’s. And if I do poorly here, I feel sluggish and crappy for the rest of the day. It makes for more rest days than necessary if I haven’t already worked out.

I definitely need a snack here, way too many hours between lunch and supper, I just need something healthy, yet indulgent. And a trick to stay focused.

Bree

Oh Bree you must have been reading my mind. As I just scooped up a snack this afternoon I was thinking “wow I love this, I need to share it!”

So here’s my favorite snack:  fat free cottage cheese and unsweetened applesauce, layered (about 130 cals.)

Ok I know it sounds weird. But it’s good I swear! I bought cheapie little 1 cup disposable tupperware cups that I use. Fill it half with cottage cheese, top with applesauce and some cinnamon. The cottage cheese keeps me full with all it’s protein and the applesauce adds some sweet tartness. If I need a bigger snack, I use a larger cup.

If you’ve really got a sweet tooth you could also do Fiber One bars, which come in chocolate, peanut butter, and some other delish flavors. About 130 cals and 1/3 of your daily fiber to keep you full.

Tomorrow I’m actually sitting down to make myself a list of “Emergency snacks” for when I get in that afternoon binge mood too. I’ll make sure to post any more ideas I come across!

I love those Fiber One bars! I had a caramel one today. I’ll definitely try your snack. It sounds filling and like it would take care of all my cravings. And making something would help me to not zone out as much as just grabbing something and shoving it in my mouth. I’ll let you know how it works.

Bree

Bree - 25 February 2008 08:48 PM

And making something would help me to not zone out as much as just grabbing something and shoving it in my mouth.

Yes! I think that’s what’s been working for me, but I haven’t put it into words yet. Thanks Bree! Now that I think about it, the hardest part of NOT binging is to slow myself down and actually be a part of the food I’m eating - by preparing it. Sometimes I have to actually say to myself “Stop… Think… I can grab this BAD food in 2 minutes, or slow down and make GOOD food in 8 minutes. I’m not THAT hungry that I can’t wait 6 more minutes to make a good choice.”

I suggest trying to pre-package some fruit and maybe some nuts or dry fruit, keeping things packaged makes it quick and accessible, they also fit easily into bags or purses. I personally try and avoid that packaged stuff as I find it contains alot of sugar.

Shawn came up with my tip before I did.  Bree, you strike me as someone who’s really good with planning.  Why not just plan your snacks ahead of time?  Get some fruit or veggies washed and prepped, put some nuts nearby, etc.  Carry some dried fruit, nuts, or energy bars (I *love* Larabars, but your mileage may vary) with you in your purse for emergencies.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,
Julie

I keep a fruit bowl on my desk at work. I realize that you’re at home and not at work but this works at home, too. If you keep a bowl of fruit on your dinner table or on the kitchen counter where you can see it you will be more likely to grab one. Try it and good luck with this.

I was thinking, Bree, about this snack issue. It could be that your mind is triggered by the end-of-work-day release and you just want an emotionally satisfying food at that time, or you may really need the calories at that time of day.

I started rotating around the times when I eat, and after a while, if my mind or body really wants something at specific times, I try to pay attention. I’ve added a mini-meal/snack at about 4pm, not because I’m hungry enough then to need it, but because if I wait till later it’s too close to my workout, and if I wait till after that it feels too too late and I’m famished and cranky.

I have ZonePerfect bars. The snack size is just 80 calories, the full bar 210, depending on how my day’s been going. Sometimes I grab three little pieces of chicken out of the work freezer (I have buffalo boneless ‘wings’ and some other nugget type chicken pieces) and heat them for less than a minute in the microwave. If I were really hungry, three wouldn’t be nearly enough, but because I’m eating on the verge of hunger, it’s very satisfying. I could go with more ‘naked’ chicken but I compromise and get that little bit of sweet/breading/other and just count the cals.

And Carlyn, cottage cheese with applesauce is not my thing, but since I eat a scoop of lowfat cottage cheese with everything from peas (frozen peas, thawed but not heated) to raisins, I’ll have to give it a try sometime. 

-- Ann

Thanks Ann, I really appreciate the energy you’ve put into helping me with my issue. I’m not sure which it is, to be honest. Some days I know I’m hungry and need the food, other days I just want something yummy on top of a satisfying snack. And by yummy, I don’t mean healthy. You know the days. The tea I have helps a lot in that area, very yummy and doesn’t taste healthy, but it is! I’ll pay more attention next week. This week we’re getting off at noon every day! The teachers have home visits this week in the afternoons, I only go to the 2 homes of the boys I help care for. So I’m home right after lunch.

Carlyn, I tried the cottage cheese and applesauce today. It was very satisfying for my hunger, I had an ounce of dark chocolate chips too to finish off the sweet craving. Fiber One bars make me gassy, so I tend to stay away if I have somewhere to go. And waiting until after yoga helped me not just eat and eat. Thanks!

Bree

Okay, I have your solution for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays because I do the same thing. When I get home from class I’ll come over and we can have tea along with some veggies and PB. How does that sound? Now all I have to do is not trade in my afternoon snack or a soda on Fridays (or any other day for that matter).

Today I had an ounce of nuts, and an ounce of dark chocolate chips. It was filling, and yummy! I’ll be making some tea here in a second. I could do PB and veggies too, well, in place of. What time do you get out of class?

Bree

Nuts and chocolate chips sounds good too. I get home around 3:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and around 4pm on Fridays.

That’s too late in the afternoon, sorry.   I eat lunch at 11 am, so I have to have a snack between 2 and 3 or I get very cranky. Usually I eat at 2:30. But come over for a cup tea anyway

Bree