Healthy afternoon snacks

[MotherDayHelp]

Hi ladies, I’m trying to loose a bit of weight and need some healthy afternoon snacks to keep me going before dinner.

My DH doesn’t get home from work until late so we don’t end up eating until 20:30 which is way later than I would like !! I end up getting so hungry I graze all evening. At the moment I have breakfast at 09:30, lunch at 13:30 and it just feels like such a long gap until dinner. I’ve tried pushing my meals later in the day but I’m in the gym at 06:00 so really can’t wait any longer than 09:30 for breakfast. Does anyone have any good ideas for low calorie snacks that will stop be eating constantly before dinner please ? 😊

I’m in a similar position to you and I’m afraid I don’t have a solution. I need fed every few hours!

I do know the logical solution is just to eat your evening meal earlier, but appreciate this doesn’t fit with your lifestyle (wouldn’t work with mine either). I usually graze on fruit, a boiled egg or cheese and oatcakes at 5-6pm if I know it’s going to be a late meal. It used to be loads of crisps but managed to wean myself off that.

expect there will be suggestions of peanut butter but I can’t stand the stuff…

Veg smoothie with chia seeds mixed in.
blend a stick of celery, a carrot, a whole kiwi (including skin) a small avocado, a handful of blueberries and a splash of oj. Blitz in a blender -not so it’s totally smooth, keep some pulpy bits.

Pour half in a container and put in the fridge for the next day. Add 2 teaspoons of chia seeds and top with water and drink before the seeds turn to wallpaper paste. I also add a spoon of spirulina, a spoon of tumeric and a spoon of pea protein powder to mine, occasionally a handful of spinach or kale too, but that can all be an acquired taste. Sometimes I’m so full I can’t even eat dinner tbh. It’s around 280 cals.

I like apple wedges with a dollop of really good peanut butter (the runnier kind where the only ingredient is peanuts) or a couple of oatcakes and houmus. Etc.

I have the same problem- rarely eat before 8:30 and am starving. I’m trying postponing my first food of the day- I do an exercise class at 12.30 most days then have my first food afterwards at 1.45pm. That way I can fit in a good late afternoon snack to keep me going. It’s still not as good as eating earlier though- honestly, I’d happily eat at 6.

Mixed nuts and raisins are great

Genuinely? Boiled cold chicken or cashew nuts or a lump of cheese.

Ignore people freaking out about the calories or fat content

Could you try five smaller meals instead of three? I found that really effective. Split breakfast in two and eat at 9:30 and 11:30 and then split lunch in two and eat at 2:30 and 5:30pm, for example.

Make a big pan of soup and have a bowl around 6.

Unlimited: carrot sticks, cornichons in a jar from Lidl, any crunchy veg as liked. Make up a saucer of chopped pepper, celery etc, whatever you like.

and

2 oat biscuits and 30g of cheese

or

Packet of salt and sweet popcorn from a multipack

or

Hot Choc made with semi skimmed milk and cocoa powder (not Drinking Chocolate) and a Nairns Oat biscuit, ginger or salted caramel

A small hot cross bun

2 Oat biscuits and cottage cheese

A mug of miso soup (box of sachets from the Japanese shelf)

a little bowl of salad, chick pea and chopped onion, parsley, tomato

Cherry toms

A satsuma

Some good ideas here, thanks everyone !

Eating that late when you’re up for 6am gym sounds really isn’t ideal and must be affecting your sleep.

Honestly in your shoes I’d eat separately.

I think you need to eat dinner earlier and let your OH warm up when he gets in