Eat Smart After Dark

It's time to hibernate. Well, maybe not, but when the night feels longer than the day, it certainly seems that way. But longer nights don't give you license to extend your eating hours. Late-night snacking and covert refrigerator raids can undermine healthy eating habits. Here are a few quick tips for eating smart after dark:

* Try to prevent late-night overeating by not eating at all. Eat low-carbohydrate meals throughout the day to keep blood sugar steady. This will reduce cravings and the temptation to snack on high-carbohydrate items such as chips.

* If you just have to snack at night, choose crunchy, low-carb foods. Carrots or celery sticks filled with cream cheese or raw, unsalted almonds can help satisfy your need for crunch.

* Eat only in the kitchen and don't take that container of food to the couch. You'll likely eat less because the TV won't distract you frrom what you're eating -- which might be too much.

* Have a nice hot cup of tea or cocoa. Fluids can help cut your appetite and a hot cup of cocoa is a liquid substitute for a chocolate bar. Well, sort of.

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