By Victoria Cline
Elm Staff Writer
There are many reasons to grab something to eat in the late hours of the evening. Anything from irregular or restricted eating during the day, stress, mood changes, or boredom can lead you to that tub of ice-cream or bag of tortilla chips.
Think about it. Maybe you have to skip lunch because of your class schedule or have a late practice that changes your normal eating routine. We need to make sure we are taking the best care of our bodies that we can.
I am no stranger to that craving for a midnight snack myself, so you are not alone in battling against binge snacking. So here is a simple checklist of do’s and don’ts to remember when that late night craving sneaks in. You can even post it to your fridge if you like.
1. Do make sure you are getting enough caloric intake during the day. If you have to skip a meal because of your schedule, pack a snack or grab some fruit from the dining hall to eat on the way to class.
2. Don’t skip meals on purpose. You need all the fuel you can get from consistent meals during the day to help you pay attention in class and be able to concentrate while studying.
3. Do make sure you are getting enough sleep at night. Lack of structured sleeping time can cause stress and has been linked to higher calorie intake, so if you stay up late working or studying, then make sure to allow your body enough time to recover for the next day.
4. Don’t mindlessly eat, or don’t multitask while eating. It is much harder to keep track of the amount of food you take in if you are reading or watching Netflix. Counteract this by giving yourself a smaller snack if you are going to be busy while eating.
5. Do stock your fridge and cabinets with healthy snacks like fruit (consider apple slices or grapes for on the go), vegetables (like carrots or celery sticks), yogurt and granola, and water and juice instead of soda. Invest in Tupperware that lets you save leftovers without having to eat the full snack in one sitting.
6. Don’t ignore your hunger or your body. It is not about choosing not to eat at all; it is about choosing to eat at the right time and what you eat.
7. Do take the time to take care of yourself, whether that be by calling up a friend, going to the gym to blow off steam or just taking an extra 30 minutes to catch some z’s.
You are far too valuable to not pay attention to what your body needs. So next time you want that late night snack, try these seven easy steps for a healthier you.