Snacks to Eat Before Bed - Part 6 (end)

Broth-Based Soup

A warm cup of soup is soothing, and it's ideal for putting you in that calming mindset you want before you hit the hay.

Simple is best: broth, protein, and veggies. Soups by Boulder Organic! and Campbell’s Well Yes! Line are both great.

Comment:  I’ve found that ¼ - ½ cup of soup does fill me up and if I use the chicken type I seem to sleep better.  Wonder why!

Snacks to Eat Before Bed - Part 5

Apple + Peanut Butter

With this easy-to-make snack, the apple's filling fiber, and PB's healthy fat team up to tame your hunger.

Stick with a single tablespoon of peanut butter to avoid a too-heavy treat. And below is a fun make-ahead snack.

Apples are full of fiber, so they're ideal if you’re always hungry.  Kick things up a notch by baking your apples to desserty perfection!

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Core 4 medium Rome or Braeburn apples, and place them in an 8" X 8" baking pan. Top with a can of no-calorie black cherry soda. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of sugar (or half a packet of no-calorie sweetener) and 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon. 

3. Bake until apples are tender, about 45 minutes.

4. Top each apple with 2 tablespoons of Fat-Free Reddi-wip (or your whipped topping of choice). Next stop, Yum Town!

1/4th of recipe (1 apple): 104 calories

Comment:  I love apples and have found a low calorie Asian dressing that I like to drizzle over them.  And yes, they are filling!

Snacks to Eat Before Bed - Part 4

Chickpeas

These little legumes provide a great punch of protein and other important nutrients. Grab a can, drain and rinse, and enjoy a 1/2-cup serving for only around 110 calories. Even better: Crunchy chickpea snacks are becoming increasingly popular. Try the kinds by Biena, or make your own with my simple recipe.

Crispy Roasted Chickpeas

1/4th of recipe (about 1/4 cup): 92 calories, 1.5g fat (0g sat fat), 337mg sodium, 15.5g carbs, 4.5g fiber, 1g sugars, 5g protein

Preheat oven to 400F. Spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray. 

Drain and rinse a 15-ounce can of chickpeas/garbanzo beans. Thoroughly pat dry. Discard any skins that were removed while drying. 

Place beans on the baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.

Rearrange beans on the sheet, either with a spatula or by gently shaking the sheet (using an oven mitt). Bake until browned, 15 to 25 minutes.

Transfer beans to a medium bowl. Drizzle with 1/4 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil, and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. If you like, add chili powder, garlic powder, and/or onion powder. Toss to coat.

Let cool for a crispier snack, or enjoy warm!

Comment:  I love hummus but have never tried eating the chickpeas roasted.  Tey do sound delicious and I will be giving this one a try.

Snacks to Eat Before Bed - Part 3

Turkey-Pickle Roll-Up

You’ve probably heard that turkey makes you sleepy, so it makes sense that it's a good pre-bed snack. No need for a full-on sandwich though! Wrap turkey slices around some pickle or cucumber spears for a low-calorie snack. Dunk in mustard for added flavor. It's one of those smart snacks you’re probably not eating. 

Comment:  I found some pepper turkey at the deli where I shop.  I make my wrap with a good dill pickle slice and love every bite.  This also makes a delicious daytime snack.

Snacks to Eat Before Bed - Part 2

Nonfat Greek Yogurt

The plain kind is my top pick to stave off late-night hunger. It's loaded with protein and low in calories Avoid the flavored kinds, which are usually higher in calories and chockfull of sugar.

If it's too tart on its own, stir in some natural no-calorie sweetener and vanilla extract. Stock up on the pre-portioned containers, because they make a great anytime snack. You can also toss it with fruit and nuts for a healthy no-cook breakfast. 

Comment:  It took me a while to get to the point that I would eat ‘plain’ yogurt.  I’ve always been used to those sweet ones that are so good.  So, I would buy both and mix them decreasing the sweet and increasing the plain until I was eating just the plain.  I did toss in a little granola as I went alone and now I can eat the plain with just a little granola and/or a few strawberries or pineapple.  So good once you get use to it.

Snacks to Eat Before Bed - Part 1

Reduced-Fat Cheese

Say cheese! This savory treat has protein and fat, so it'll stop hunger in its tracks. Just stick with light varieties, preferably portion controlled, to avoid overdoing it.

Grab a serving of Sargento’s Snack Bites cheese snacks (the Chipotle BBQ Cheddar is the best), a stick of light string cheese, a slice of reduced-fat cheddar, or a Mini Babybel Light. Bonus: The red wax of the Babybel will keep your hands busy (distracting you from continuing to eat) once you're done with the cheese.

Comment: I do love cheese so this is great.  My biggest problem is to stop with a light treat and to stay away from the cracker.  To help with this I grab a Mini Babybel Light and take it bed with me.  I eat and then brush my teeth.  Works for me.

5 Things Dietitians Wish You Knew About Losing Weight - Part 5 (end)

Some Gimmicks Just Might Work

If you’ve ever sworn off carbohydrates completely, only eaten fruit on an empty stomach, or mainlined grapefruit all day in the name of weight loss, you've been on a fad diet. Many diet plans are based on gimmicks, or little tricks that are supposed to help you be successful, but often don’t work. But the truth is that some of these gimmicks can work for some people. So if eating vegan for most of the day or not eating after 8 o'clock has worked for you in the past, then go with it! You don’t have to follow every aspect of a diet plan in order to be successful. A word of caution though: Some gimmicks go too far. If a diet plan permanently eliminates a whole food group or has you living on a diet of celery sticks and grapefruit, then look for a plan that is more well-rounded.

Comment:  I agree 100%.  When I was doing the low carb diet I eliminated almost ALL fruit.  I love fruit and now that I’m doing Weight Watchers I can have my fruit and usually eat it as a dessert or snack. 

5 Things Dietitians Wish You Knew About Losing Weight - Part 4

Eat

We’ve all heard the claims and seen the pictures of people who've gone from a size 12 to a 2 in just six weeks. While it’s natural to want these quick results, the fact is that the best type of weight loss is gradual. According to the Centers for Disease Control, a healthy rate of weight loss is 1-2 pounds per week. So, keep this in mind when setting your weight loss goal. Setting a realistic goal can keep you from feeling frustrated along the way. “Keeping it real” is important when choosing food, too, so opt for whole, unprocessed foods as often as you can.

Comment:  I have to admit that I want to see the weight loss go down at least every other day but that is so impractical.  I’ve made a rule that I will only weigh once a week and will quit skipping meals.

5 Things Dietitians Wish You Knew About Losing Weight - Part 3

What You're Drinking Can Pack on the Pounds

Don’t forget that drinks can have a big impact on your weight-loss success. Whenever possible, opt for low-calorie or calorie-free beverages such as fat-free milk, water, or seltzer. If alcohol is a part of your social life, it can be difficult to abstain completely so make better choices and limit yourself to one light alcoholic beverage like a wine spritzer and drink water the rest of the time. When you drink water can also make a difference. A recent study showed that drinking sixteen ounces of water thirty minutes before a meal may aid weight loss.

Comment:  When I first gave up my sweet tea I found water to taste really ‘nasty.’  Now that I drink only water I find tea ‘nasty’ tasting.  And believe me, if you drink 16 oz. of water before a meal you will find yourself eating way less than you normally do.

5 Things Dietitians Wish You Knew About Losing Weight - Part 2

It May Sound Boring, but Small Changes Really Make a Big Difference

Whether it’s skipping that extra cookie or nixing the sugar in your daily coffee, seemingly small changes on a daily basis can add up to a big change in your weight. Since a five hundred calorie deficit each day leads to about a 1 pound loss each week, even a few changes can have a slimming effect. You’ll find five hundred calories in items such as 2 doughnuts, a bagel with cream cheese, 2.5 ounces of potato chips, or a chocolate mocha latte. Pretty simple, right?

Comment:  This actually works.  I quit drinking sweet tea and now drink nothing but water.  It did allow me to lose a couple of pounds.  But, you can’t stop at just one change.  You have to keep eliminating items.

5 Things Dietitians Wish You Knew About Losing Weight - Part 1

This is from Everyday Health and quite interesting.  It will be listed in 5 parts.

Despite What Everyone Tells You, You Don’t Need to Detox

There are a number of programs that advertise the benefits of an "extreme cleanse" for good health, but the truth is that you don’t need one. While it may not be as exciting, eating a healthy diet of lean protein, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats is the healthiest way to lose weight (and maintain it). The truth is that your liver and kidneys take care of all of your body’s detoxification needs, so there’s no need to follow any special diet in January or the rest of the year.

Comment:  I'm glad to hear this one.  I hate detoxing!  

Carbs in Vegetables

This chart shows which veggies we should be eating if we're watching our carbs.  I found this chart on Verywell and even though I'm no longer 'counting carbs' I'm still watching them with my Weight Watcher's diet.

Top 5 Fruits for Weight Loss

I love fruit and when I was on a low carb diet I wasn't able to eat very much.  Now that I'm on Weight Watchers I can have my fruit.  This article shows me what fruits are the best for me and my diet.  It's from verywell Fit .  Out of these 5 fruit I like 4.  Never been a fan of raspberries but you can bet I'll be enjoying all the rest.

#1 Apple

It’s no secret that fruit is a smart part of a healthy diet. When a snack attack hits, pay a visit to your fruit bowl. Whatever’s in there is likely to be better for you than the contents of your pantry. But is all fruit created equal? Let's investigate which fruits are best if you’re looking to lose weight.

Apples are a common favorite. They're the ultimate snack: filling, juicy, crunchy, and portable. Studies have even shown that eating three apples per day can help with weight loss - not surprising, considering they’re chock-full of fiber, a nutrient that’s known to boost feelings of fullness and ward off hunger pangs.

There are plenty of ways to get your daily dose of apple: Chow down on a whole Fuji (apples are such a packable snack!), add pieces to your oatmeal, throw slices into a salad, bake some with your chicken, or cook up a low-cal dessert. 

1 medium apple: 95 calories

#2 Watermelon

Watermelon is a double whammy: It’s low in calories with a high water content. This means you can eat two entire cups of watermelon for less than 100 calories and your stomach will feel like you’ve eaten more because the fruit is more than 90 percent water. Staying hydrated helps you feel full!

If you’re looking to lower your daily calorie intake, incorporating watermelon into your diet is a smart move. Munch on it whenever you feel the urge to snack. This way, you’ll avoid higher-calorie foods and satisfy your sweet tooth. 

1 cup diced watermelon: 46 calories,

#3 Raspberries

Raspberries are small but mighty! These babies are low in calories, and even lower when you consider that they’re high in insoluble (indigestible) fiber. When you eat a 64-calorie cup of raspberries, you’re really only digesting about 32 calories. Put that together with the fact that raspberries have the highest fiber content of any fruit (1 cup = 8g fiber), and we’ve got ourselves a weight-loss winner.

1 cup raspberries: 64 calories, 0.5g fat, 1mg sodium, 14.5g carbs, 8g fiber, 5.5g sugars, 1.5g protein 

#4 Grapefruit

Grapefruit gives you a lot of bang for your calorie buck. A medium grapefruit has only around 80 calories, and like watermelon, it’s more than 90 percent water. By the time you cut up the grapefruit, sprinkle it with a bit of no-calorie sweetener, and eat the entire thing, you’re not gonna have the time or inclination to eat anything else.

Plus, studies have shown that a compound in grapefruit called naringin could lower blood sugar and ultimately lead to weight loss.  So enjoy some grapefruit at every opportunity – squeeze it into your water,  throw some wedges into your salad, or use it like lemon to flavor your food.

Keep in mind that consuming grapefruit with certain medications could have adverse health effects. If you’re on any meds, check with your doctor before adding grapefruit to your diet.

1 medium grapefruit: 82 calories,

#5 Oranges

If grapefruit isn’t your go-to citrus pick, you’re in luck. Oranges are an amazing weight-loss fruit too. High in fiber and water content, they’ll help you feel full.

Another great thing about oranges? There’s almost always a variety in season and there’s no shortage of ways to add the fruit to your diet. Eat a whole orange as a snack or use mandarin orange segments in salads. 

1 large orange: 86 calories,

Why add Tuna to your Diet

I love tuna but have only eaten it from a can.  Many times I've read or heard that the type of tuna doesn't matter, its all the same.  Apparently not.  

This information is from Very Well Fit.

Benefits of Canned Tuna

The nutritional value of canned tuna speaks for itself.

When packed in water, a 6.5-ounce can of tuna contains:

144 calories

Two grams of fat

No saturated fat

No carbohydrates

No sugar

32 grams of protein

412 grams of salt (18 percent of the recommended daily value)

15 percent of the recommended daily value of iron

For those on a low-salt diet, there are even versions that offer 25 percent less sodium.

Health Benefits of Tuna

The omega-3 fatty acids found in tuna are known to promote good heart health. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), these essential fats can help decrease triglycerides in the blood, lower the risk of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeats), and slow the buildup of plaque in the arteries. Because of this, the AHA recommends that you consume at least two servings of fish per week.

With the being said, the amount of omega-3 fatty acids in a three-ounce serving can vary significantly based on the type of fish consumed. Among the tuna varieties, both fresh and canned:

Fresh bluefin tuna offers 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams.

Canned white albacore tuna offers 500 to 1,000 milligrams.

Canned light tuna offers 200 to 500 milligrams.

Fresh skipjack tuna offers 200 to 500 milligrams.

Fresh yellowfin tuna offers 200 milligrams or less.

Food Strategies for Losing Weight

These are some really great tips!  They are from Everyday Health

If you want to feel full all day on less food, focus on these eating strategies:

Get enough lean protein and fiber. A study of 22 men who changed the amount of protein in their diets for 18-day periods showed that those who ate the least protein were the most likely to report being hungry. "Protein is the number one thing to help you feel full," says Emily Banes, RD, clinical dietitian at Houston Northwest Medical Center. "The second thing is fiber."

Eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables. Researchers tracked the weight-loss success of 71 obese women between 20 and 60 years of age on a low-fat diet. Half of the women were also told to increase their fruit and vegetable intake. At the end of one year, both groups of women had lost weight, but the women who ate the most fruits and veggies reported the greatest weight loss and were less likely to say they felt hungry on any given day. In fact, when the researchers crunched the data, they found that whether the women reported feeling hungry frequently predicted their ability to lose weight. Other studies have shown that changing your eating habits to focus on these water- and fiber-rich foods will help you maintain weight loss for up to six years.

Sip soup. Adding two low-calorie soups to your diet every day could stave off hunger pangs and keep you satisfied longer. Choose soups that are broth-based, not cream-based, to reduce the calorie count; also look for soups that are low in sodium. Consider chunky, pureed vegetable soups, as they have been shown to produce the most lasting full feeling. Timing your soup so that you have it before a meal also reduces the amount you eat at that meal by about 20 percent, according to a study of 53 overweight adults.

Eat whole grains. A serving of whole grains will stick with you longer than a serving of refined wheat bread or any other refined flour product, for that matter. Most refined flour is white and often bleached.

Pick "airy" snacks. If you must snack and you don't have a piece of fruit or a veggie tray on hand, choose the snack food that has more air in it — think cheese puffs instead of potato chips, rice cakes instead of cookies. You will feel just as full as you would if you ate the same serving size of another snack, but you will consume fewer calories on average.

Another way to fight off hunger is to develop a "low-energy density" eating plan. This means that you can eat a large quantity of foods that do not have a high calorie count. Learning about portion sizes and counting calories is one way to approach this, but you can also try the plate method, which dictates that half your plate be full of veggies, one-quarter dedicated to a starch (preferably whole grain), and one-quarter to a lean protein.

And speaking of plates, it's worth noting that a study of 45 adults demonstrated that the oft-repeated advice to eat on a smaller plate if you want to feel like you have more food in front of you actually has no effect on the amount you eat at a meal (if you are serving yourself) or your feeling of being full.

So, if you prefer, you can go back to eating on your good china — just make sure to emphasize lean proteins, fruits, and veggies.