What can I eat about 5ish that won't put on loads of weight?

[melaniespeaking]

I can't seem to get from lunchtime through until dinnertime (8-9ish) without eating somthing (ie biscuits, sweet snacks, crisps etc). I wondered if anybody had any good ideas for food that was healthy. I really need something, as I go quite weak and wobbly, and as we all know the end of the day(putting 3 children to bed, with homework, stories etc), is a very busy part of the day. I don't want to hurry it or be grumpy because I'm hungry, but don't want to eat all the wrong things!
Help!

I have given in on this one and now eat my main meal at tea-time with my 3yo. Means the evening is a bit of a non-event, but like you I found I was either faint with hunger from 5-8 or had eaten so many "snacks" at 5 that I wasn't really hungry by 8 but ate dinner then anyway! Can't say I've seen the weight dropping off since I adopted this strategy though...

A banana, toast, rice cakes and philadelphia light, veggie sticks and salsa. If it was me I'd have to have the veg ready-prepared or I couldn't be bothered.

Also bit like Sheila we all (DH, DS and I) eat at about 6.30 pm. Bit of a rush on work days but we manage.

..and a couple of glasses of water to keep you full till later

a toasted muffin with jam (no butter)

rice cake and hummous, wholemeal toast and low fat spread, fruit...

Cherry tomatoes, cup-a-soup...