Snacking

Question: snacking...? I was just wondering if you had any tips on how to stop snacking?

Answer: if you are snacking because you are hungry, don't stop, just snack on something that is healthy, and don't eat more than 200 calories when you snack. If you snacking when you are not hungry then chew gum or drink water. Never snack or eat without knowing if you are going through the motions or whether you are actually hungry.

Question: What snacking foods should I buy to start a new weight gain diet? I am a 17y.o. male, 135lbs, looking to gain weight. I am starting a new exercise program, and since my parents recently switched diets, there is never a good amount of food in the house. I am planning to go buy a new bunch of food, but I was just wondering what kinds are good for constant snacking and high protein, weight gain.

Answer: Best bet is to talk to your doctor or a nutritionist to help you plan a program to gain weight. That being said . . . Be sure you are snacking on healthy foods instead of junk which is empty calories and low in nutritious value. Cheese and crackers, or peanut butter crackers - high in protein and satisfy the need to crunch tend to be better than fried potato chips (or crisps - depending on where you are!) Baked tortilla chips and salsa - make your own nachos! - line a cookie sheet with tinfoil. Cover it with chips and grated cheeses. Broil it for several minutes until the cheese is melted. Remove from oven and top with whatever you like - salsa, sour cream, etc. Whole grain breads make great tasting healthy sandwiches - meats (if you're not a vegetarian), cheeses, peanut butter and jelly, whatever! Smoothies or homemade milkshakes with fresh fruits and protein powders added. Loaded with vitamins and calcium and generally taste good! Yogurt with granola / grape nuts / cereal of choice and fresh fruit. Tasty meal or snack. Grilled meals - my dad bought a gas grill for Father's Day and I cook on it more than he does!! Fish, Chicken, steaks, veggies . . . anything goes on the grill. Much healthier than fried alternatives! You might want to check out the websites such as the American Heart Association. They tend to list HEALTHY diets. Good luck!!

Question: How can I stop myself from snacking before bedtime? I do excellent during the day, but at night I snack in front of the computer. I don't want to stop going on the computer, I just need to quit the snacking. Any ideas?

Answer: Try brushing your teeth or using mouthwash. The toothpaste and mouthwash makes food taste funny and you're less likely to want to snack because the taste will be weird.

Question: What do you do to stop yourself snacking when you are not hungry? I always snack when I am not hungry, but I really want to stop. Does anyone have any tips to stop snacking?

Answer: I have a logical suggestion. When it is time for your designated meal, eat filling foods and drink plenty of water. Also take multi-vitamins to ensure your health. Hope this helps....

Question: How do you keep from snacking at night? I usually stay up until about midnight, but I don't like to eat after 6. I workout at around 8 or 9, and I'm famished when I get home. Any tips to keep from snacking at night before bed?

Answer: If I'm working on something that I don't want to get dirty (i.e. I'm making a quilt) then ut isn't worth my effort to get a snack, then wash my hands before I can start working again. I just keep working straight thru. Hope it helps!

Question: How do I keep myself from snacking when I am bored? My husband works long hours, I am a housewife, and I get bored when my husband isn't home so I snack. Sometimes I snack because I am hungry but most times it is because I am bored. I would use exercise instead of snack but for medical reasons I can't. I also resolved to lose fifteen pounds in six months. I can't lose weight if I am always snacking. Any ideas?

Answer: Keep your hands and mind busy. Work crossword puzzles, read a good novel, learn to crochet or knit. You could crochet or knit your husband a really cool scarf or one for a friend. Try drawing or painting. If you don't live too far from your library, go there. There are good books, magazines and all kinds of things to look at there. I grow houseplants to keep myself busy. I never thought I had a green thumb when I was younger, but by trial and error, I now have many beautiful houseplants and they are really fun to take care of. Also, if you have to snack, try low calorie foods. I love raw carrots. Have a salad with just a little dressing. Pop some lite butter popcorn. Eat an apple or an orange. Don't fill up on sweets. Good luck on finding something you like to do and good luck on losing the weight you want to lose.

Question: What's the difference between snacking and eating 6 meals a day? The NEW thing is to eat six smaller meals a day, as opposed to three (breakfast, lunch, dinner). How is that any different than snacking? And why, all of a sudden, is this the thing to do, what is going to happen to the names "breakfast, lunch, and dinner", and what are we gonna call the other three meals?

Answer: When people talk about eating six times a day, you can use the terms "meal" or "snack" interchangeably. The idea isn't to eat more food during the day -- it's aimed at keeping your food intake more constant throughout the day. That's why they say eat six SMALL meals or snacks during the day. Why is this a good thing to do? Simple: Your body is very good at converting the food you eat into the energy you need. One problem though: If you eat too much at once, your body stores the extra calories it doesn't need right away as fat. That's why it's not a good idea to eat big at any meal or snack time (once in a while is OK, but you shouldn't make a habit of eating big meals). Conversely, if you go too long between one meal or snack and the next, your metabolism slows down a bit. Not much, but enough that your body burns fewer calories. By contrast, eating small meals or snacks more often during the day keeps your metabolism running higher because you have to expend energy to digest your food. WARNING: Eating six small meals or snacks per day that consist primarily of fast food, junk food, soft drinks, or any of that other bad-for-you stuff isn't good either. If you're looking to get lean or stay lean, you have to eat a well-balanced diet that is made up almost entirely of good sources of protein (eggs, lean meats, fish, poultry, nuts, lowfat dairy products), carbs (whole grain products and fresh fruits/vegetables), and heart-healthy mono-and-polyunsaturated fat (avocadoes, eggs, fish, fish oil, flax seed, flax seed oil, nuts, and olive oil).

Question: How can I control my snacking at night? I usually tend to snack more towards at night (but usually to where it still fits in with my WW points). What are some tips you can give m about how to avoid late night snacking?

Answer: Drink a lot of water to fill your stomach after 7:00pm

Question: Any tips on how to stop snacking at work when servere boredom sets in? I need to lose 4 stone to get down to my ideal weight of 9 stone. It's easy when at home, but i struggle at work when everyone around me is snacking and i always give in to temptation!! Any hints or tips??

Answer: Try to find something that you can do instead of eating, Like buy a book/mag and read that. buy some wordsearch/sudoku books boring i know but it is something to do. Just stay focused on your work. If you cant find something to do then you could bring in your own healthy snacks like fruit.

Question: Why do I find myself snacking on something when I write? I normally don't eat much. Although, recently I find myself snacking on peanuts when writing my novel. I think I use it as fuel. Can anyone else relate? Why do I find eating peanuts helpful? You may think this is a useless question, but I was wondering if I'm the only one that does this.

Answer: For the same reason a lot of writers have been smokers. Writing can be agitating and nerve-wracking, and many find they need something to help them relax, focus, and concentrate. For some people, that's nicotine; for others, alcohol is calming (though you later find that you didn't write nearly as well as you thought you did); and for others food works. Peanuts are high in protein, which will have a somewhat more calming effect than anything high in sugar. When I was in grad school writing a dissertation, I smoked. These days, I chew on a pencil. I never use pencils for any other reason.

Question: How do you break the habits of snacking? Im trying to break my habit of snacking but i dont no what do and i end up eating like a whole bag of chips or junk..

Answer: when you feel like snacking, eat some fruit.

Question: Any way to break the cycle of snacking constantly? I am going to lose 100 pounds. I am going going on a diet that will hopefully keep me eating at a set time. I like to snack all day. I have a nervous condition that keeps at least one part of my body moving, usually my mouth with food in it. I am being serious. If my mouth isn't moving, it is my foot or my hand, etc. I usually don't eat "meals". Instead, I usually just keep snacking all day (sunflower seeds, cereal, etc). Anything that is small and has many pieces. Any suggestions to help break the habit of constant snacking?

Answer: Try eating 5-6 small healthy meals a day. This will help speed up your metabolism and help with your weight loss. This should also keep you from having the urge to snack. If that doesn't help, try chewing sugar-free gum. To help with your weight loss try reading the 3 hour diet by Jorge Cruise. I have never tried it, but I have heard good reviews on it and I saw him on the Today show helping Al Roker lose 25 pounds. Hope this helps.

Question: How can I stop myself from snacking all of the time? Every time I get a little bit bored, I start to snack on rather unhealthy things like chocolate, chips and junk food. I don't gain a lot of weight, but I can see the changes of getting a little heavier. I'm afraid that my snacking will have lasting long-term affects. Please Help!

Answer: Snacking every now and then is OK so don't try to stop snacking all at once, otherwise you will binge even more. What you can do is look in the mirror and tell yourself, do I really want to be 7 pounds heavier, no you don't so next time you are feeling hungry then grab a piece of fruit or some almonds and nuts healthy snacks, think of it like this, all that snacking will slowly make you fatter and then one day you will become one of those obese peeps who can't be bothered to lose all that weight and then die like that!! A bit harsh I know but trust me you don't want to be that. If you want some healthy alternatives to junk food and snacking, email me for info, otherwise good luck sweetheart!

Question: How do I keep from snacking? I know that snacking leads to being quite a bit less healthy but I always find myself doing it. Are there any tips to help me stop?

Answer: if ur not snacking because ur hungry that means you feel like you need to eat or you get tempted. Just think are u REALLY hungry. Do I really want to eat this. And if u still cant stop yourself then snack on healthier things like almonds or oatmeal bars.

Question: Are my snacking habits really that strange? I've been told I have strange snacking habits. I eat A1 steak sauce by itself and when I have a tuna sandwich I drink the water from the can. So, Yahoo, are my snacking habits really that weird?

Answer: lol i like your style son definitly is different no doubt about it but i think eating you own way should be done and i dont know about the steak sauce but that tuna water is very good for you packed with protein, omega 3, fish oils etc i think we could learn a thing or 2 from you like we could all the funny snackers of the world. there not strange you just seeking the strong flavours lol like we all are

Question: How do you prevent yourself from snacking between meals? How can I stop snacking between meals?

Answer: I chew gum, and drink water. water is great, because it fills you up and its great for you. gum is also awesome, if you are around some tempting foods or anything and you need to just be chewing something to help you stop snacking