I need nice but no too bad snacks to stop me searching the cupboards like a crack addict looking for left over chocolate coins

[Bumperlicious]

Am bfing dd2 who is 4.5 mo. Am 2.5 stone overweight due to eating badly & lack of exercise. She is up twice in the night (and that is after being up all evening) and I am knackered, so doing any exercise is a non-starter, quite frankly I'm struggling to get out of bed in the morning.

I eat decent meals, but it is the volume, and crap on top which is a problem. Even when I try and be good & I know I'm not hungry I find myself desperately searching for something nice to eat in the evening. I have no time to myself and little pleasure at the moment. I need something nice I can look forward to in the evening.

What could I have that is easily rationable & not too bad? None of this 'one square of good quality dark chocolate' bollock!

Chupa chup lollies contain only 46 calories each!

Sorry, am in a similar position to you regarding looking for low-cal snacks.

I do realise that this is possibly a completely useless response, but perhaps we are both on a fruitless search for the holy grail?

Oh, a 'fun-size' apple contains 35 calories. Yum yum...

And i know you posted this in Food, just haven't yet found the magic low cal/treat that works for me

I detest rice cakes but the caramel ones are actually really nice for some reason.

I also like Crackerbread. I hate hate Ryvita type things but Crackerbread are nice with a bit of Marmite on them (if you're ok with marmite of course) & maybe a bit of cheese and a glass of wine.

Oh and French Fries crisps aren't too high in calories.

We don't have any crap in the house because I know that if it's there I will eat it
How about dried fruit? I get little bags of semi-dried apricots. Or just normal fruit? Apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, cherries Or yogurts?

Boredom's the killer in the evening. V easy to whittle your way mindlessly through an awful lot of crap if you're not careful

Raw vegetable crudites such as cauliflower florets, button mushrooms, peppers, cucumber, celery courgette.... etc... are really delicious livened up with a small blob of low-fat hummus, spicy salsa, other low-fat dip or some cottage cheese on the side. Arrange it all nicely on a plate and it feels quite luxurious. The vegetables are practically calorie-free so you can chop up plenty of those with a clear conscience. Plus they have a satisfying crunch so they keep your teeth busy for ages whilst filling your tummy nicely

m and S do some crisp sized bags of very nice popcorn with eg white chocolate and strawberry that are only 100 calories or so a bag

Popcorn? I made some yesterday and ignored the suggestion to add anything to it and it was quite tasty.

You need self control. You need yo just say " I am an adult a
D this food dies not make me happy in the long term"

You need to halve your portion size

I have had this conversation with a dietician. Her advice was to snack on yoghurts (my favorite was those with cherries) and simple biscuits like these because "80% of their calories are from flour rather than sugar and fat".

Alongside with a bit of exercise, I lost 10 kgs and went down two dress sizes. I was breastfeeding at the time, too.

Lol at one square of good quality

Chil's idea of veg crudites are a good idea.

Fresh fruit platter - pineapple, mango, coconut, strawberries.

1 slice of peanut butter on toast - chop a banana on top for that extra hit of sweetness.

Natural yoghurt and fruit.

Biscuits with your favourite cheeses and grapes - you have to ration the cheese, but if you like strong ones that is quite easy.

A two fingered kit kat - when you really need that chocolate hit.

i've got bags of different dried fruits and nuts in the cupboard. Plus i've just got into low fat vanilla yoghurt with muesli sprinkled in, mmm it's lovely and sweet! Plus go ahead do nice raspberry crispy slices, or you could do some flapjacks :)

at people recommending Chupa Chups lollipops and crisps to someone struggling with her weight.

OP needs to restrict calories and make them count - i.e. Eat food that is actually useful to her body rather than pure sugar (lollipops) or excess fat (crisps).

Your plate should be:
1/2 salad or vegetables (little to no olive oil)
1/4 protein (meat, chicken, fish, or 1 egg)
1/4 carbohydrates (2-3 spoonfuls of rice or pasta, 1 slice of bread, some boiled potatoes)
... Followed by a fruit.

Oh, sometimes I treat myself to fresh bought chopped fruit. I feel over indulgent then because it's so bloody expensive!

Oh, sometimes I treat myself to fresh bought chopped fruit. I feel over indulgent then because it's so bloody expensive!

I like those mini bags of twiglets but really its just training yourself not to snack.

Tis hard though.

I felt very similar when BFing my DS.

I think I was having massive blood sugar swings. Maybe it would be worth looking into reducing your processed food intake and replacing with larger portions of veg, wholegrains and protein.

I agree about making up some crudites or even just sandwiches to eat when the cravings hit otherwise you risk finding some chocolate coins (or cooking chocolate!) and setting off the blood sugar swings even more.

Of course I should add I have just eaten a very large handful of marshmallows at 7.30am and am not one to talk .

Options hot chocolate, it gives me the chocolate but only 30 calories. Mullerlight yogurts, they do chocolate orange ones.

Toasted seeds, e.g. pumpkin, sunflower, maybe kennel and pine nuts, dry toast in pan, add a splash of soy sauce. Yum.

That would be fennel!

Thanks for all the replies. Savoury snacks don't really do it for me. I'm looking for something sweet.

I know I should probably reduce portion size but it's hard. Last night I was up with dd at 3am and was so hungry I struggled to get back to sleep. Dh normally makes me a flask of tea which takes the edge off but he forgot last night.

I'm not a fan of flavoured yoghurt but have been having natural yoghurt with granola which is yummy but not hitting that sweet spot enough. Again, fruit isn't really hitting the spot either.

I have been having a bowl of sugary cereal which isn't great but better than a bar of galaxy. Popcorn is a good idea. I really want to make some flap jack or bake fruit muffins but struggling to find the time.

Mmmmm to marshmallows though...

I guess what I need is a sort of hierarchy of treats according to how bad they are, sort of like a flapjack is better than chocolate but worse than fruit.

Just saying no really isn't an option at the moment. I can't occupy myself with anything else in the evenings as the baby is up & I'm feeling pretty low so psychologically I need a 'treat'.

I'm in a very similar boat Bumperlicious, except DC2 is 12 weeks old and I need to shift 3 stone

I'm managing to eat quite healthily during the day but am getting chocolate cravings in the evening.

My 'good' sweet treats include fat free natural yogurt with muesli and some extra raisins added for sweetness, peanut butter and honey on toast and Options hot chocolate which is very sweet and quite chocolatey.

If I'm organised enough having a big bowl of fruit salad in the fridge is great.
I also like the bags of frozen forest fruits or summer berries which can be done in microwave to make a quick compote which is good with yogurt.

However if there is chocolate in the house I manage to have the good stuff and then the chocolate

My sweet cravings are definitely worse when I'm tired but not much I can do about that at the moment.

I know what you mean about the treat hierarchy.
I'm trying to rank it in terms of fat content so marshmallows would be a good one for instant sugar hit and flapjacks not so good as high fat (and sugar).

I've been so inactive since DC2 was born due to weather and short daylight hours I think that's why the weight has piled on so quickly. Am hoping to get out walking a lot more now weather is better and days longer, am sure that'll help.

I need to do something, have never been this big before.

Just remembered about these - very yummy! My faves are the chili ones, but seem to remember the vanilla ones being quite sweet...

I buy frozen blueberries and eat them when they are semi defrosted - they almost taste like sweets when they are hard!

I find it hard as well not to snack. I've sat and ploughed my way through a whole load of fruit today to take away the cravings I don't have the excuse of BF either,I'm just greedy

I did quite well on the yoghurt thing, I added a few oats instead of granola and then a teaspoon of honey sort of swirled in to it for the sweetness, which I craaaaaaaave like you OP. I also use hot chocolate ina big big mug, and if I'm not doing anything while drinking it, I will 'eat' it with a tea spoon it makes it last longer...