How You Can Avoid Snack Attacks

With summer creeping up on us and the holiday season not too far away trying to get a grip of snacking between meals is a really good way of cutting out a few unnecessary calories.

I find when I have a lot going on in my life, predictably, almost without thinking I start snacking.  There are times of the day when I know that I am going to have a snacking attack – and yet I do not seem to intercept my brain or my mouth to prevent this from happening.

So perhaps a way round this is to do a bit of planning in my saner food moments and actually organise my snacking foods and make these more available than biscuits or chocolate.

A good idea is to keep indulgent treats in plastic boxes or tins at the back of a shelf.  Then you are less likely to be eating them because they just catch your eye – but because you really want them.

Make healthy snacks as easy to opt for as chocolate, crisps or whatever your particular weakness is.   Think ahead.  Shop with your snack attacks in mind.  Prepare it ahead too. Wash fruit so it is ready to eat.  Chop up some crunchy veggies to eat with low fat dips, houmous or spicy salsa.  Store these items at eye level, so they are the first thing you see when a snack attack hits.

Buy cheese ready grated.  It will go further in sandwiches and wraps – and it is a lot more difficult to eat than a chunk of cheese.

If you have a regular food raid – perhaps you need to build an evening / or late afternoon snack into your legitimate eating habits.  That way you can plan this snack, rather than it being sneaky nibbling.

Don’t routinely keep wine in the fridge.  If you have to chill a bottle specially, it will be easier to resist.

Keep a jug of water in the fridge, with slices of lemon or lime to jazz it up.  When water looks inviting it is easier to resist less healthy drinks.

Finally if there are times when you just need grab and go foods, stock up on yoghurts, smoothies, prepared fruit salads and hard boiled egss.  Things that you enjoy eating and will stop you buying a bar of chocolate when you are out and about.

Good luck.