Saying No to Snacking

Do you feel hungry even after you have had your lunch or dinner? You go sneaking into the kitchen or peep into the refrigerator to look for something to munch on. This uncontrollable desire to snack, irrespective of the fact that you have just eaten a full meal, has left you bursting at the seams. No matter how much you try, you can't get over that urge to snack. Well, if you are in this situation, then this article is a must for you. Here are some easy-to-do tips that will help you fight snacking:

• Think about your hunger. If you are feeling hungry, don't just start walking towards the kitchen. Think about your hunger. Ask yourself are you really hungry. If your answer is yes, then the possible reason for your hunger is that you ate an incomplete meal and hence now you are hungry. If this is the case, then have a light snack like an apple but do not overstuff yourself and feel guilty later on. However, if you have eaten a full meal, then ask yourself why do you want to munch? Are you tired, bored, lonely or in a habit of snacking? If you are tired, relax; if you are bored, watch a movie or read a book; if you are lonely, call up a friend and if you snack out of habit, then try to forget about it and divert your mind.
• Remain busy all the time. Boredom is the main cause for snacking. Learn new activities and remain occupied with them. You could involve yourself in some productive activities like letter writing, gardening, reading, cleaning the house etc and keep your mind off food.
• Close the kitchen. This is a good technique to keep your mind off food. After your main meal shut the kitchen door. You will automatically turn back seeing the kitchen closed.
• Set your eating guidelines. You can create your own guidelines like never to eat while watching television or while talking over the phone, eating only at the dining table and at fixed times. This will enable you to eat your meal with concentration and not leave you hungry later on.
• Drink water. If you are feeling hungry, drink a glass of water. Water has the ability to fill you up. This will lessen your urge to have a snack.
• Clear your house of high calorie snacks. Remove all tempting snacks such as chips and biscuits from your kitchen shelves. Instead, stock your fridge with various fruits and vegetables and munch on these when you are really hungry. By eating such foods you will not be guilty about adding extra calories.

Choose what method suits you best, follow that religiously and you will soon find yourself saying no to snacks.