Most of us have indulged in a snack by the soft light of the fridge in the middle of the night. It’s just so natural to fall into the depths of the cozy sofa with a bowl of ice cream or bag of chips, while watching television.  But is your evening snack a necessity or a bad habit?

Some people believe you shouldn’t eat past a certain time in the evening since it will perpetuate weight gain.  Whether you believe in this myth or not, if you consistently seek comfort foods late at night, you will gain weight.

I suggest you pay attention to whether your desire to eat is due to true physical hunger or something else.  If your body is telling you to eat, a healthy evening snack is acceptable every once in a while.  However, in many late night binging cases, people eat out of stress, boredom or to fill emotional needs, not out of hunger.  By making some changes to your daily eating habits and to your routines before you go to bed, you can stop the cravings.

Fill up During the Day

Eat balanced meals and snacks throughout the day without skipping any meals.  Some individuals cut back their calorie intake so much during the day that they are literally starving by night.  Unable to limit to small portions, individuals fill up on high-fat snacks and they overeat at dinner.

To avoid the midnight munchies make sure to eat breakfast and lunch.  Try to consume two-thirds of your total daily calorie intake before dinner.  Include proteins and small amounts of fat in your breakfast and lunch.  Proteins will provide you with more energy and they have more staying power than foods high in carbohydrates.

Brush and Floss

Once you have finished eating dinner, brush and floss your teeth thoroughly.  Not only is it a good habit to get into, it will deter you from eating anything else now that your teeth are clean.  Then, pour yourself a glass of water or herbal tea to sip on for the rest of the evening.