How do you unwind at night without food?

[Anon_92]

I'm finding that after I put the kids to sleep at night time I go downstairs and start to get these huge cravings for anything sweet. I fully know that it's stress related as I eat enough during the day and always have a balanced evening meal. I'm struggling to break the cycle and wondering what other people do in the evening to relax without using food? TIA

Wine 😭 I need something similarly less destructive to use to unwind!

I've never gotten into wine, which is prob a good thing as I have way too many sweets!!

Tried going zero added sugar free today but got hungry and just went mad as always.

Alcohol 🫤
TV series to binge, light some candles/fire. Maybe have some chopped to snack if you’d usually eat? Or veg sticks maybe.

If you can afford it, a hot bath with a face pack and an audiobook. I get very groomed when on a diet.

Karate kata, or yoga.

Music, hot bath and bed

Another vote for wine😂

I have two treats a night a yogurt or mouse at 18.30 then a wrapped chocolate biscuit at 19.30 then hot chocolate at 2100 I find it works for me and yes I’ve lost weight plenty of fruit and veg in the day.

Sorry, another vote for wine here too.

Im trying really hard to go alcohol free til Xmas now. I’m on day 1 and it’s going to be a LONG 4 weeks! 😂

I have a mint tea a clementine and watch tv- something adult that the kids wouldn't want to watch eg White Lotus or a documentary. Something about the strong flavours / smell of the mint/orange feels quite luxurious.

Could you try a bowl of cereal instead, or carrot sticks and salsa, apple slices and peanut butter, or some nuts etc. I know it is really hard.

A book. I've never understood the need for alcohol to unwind but my dad was an alcoholic so it rings alarm bells for me when I hear people say that.

It's food but I make a porridge oats and chia seed pudding with flaked almonds and milk. Healthy but filling. Really quick and easy to make.

Forgot to say sometimes I have a tiny bar of dark chocolate. It is indulgent so i savour it more and need less, calories aren't much for such a small bar. It feels like a nice treat after a hot bath with my favourite programs.

Haha I’ve just poured a g&t off the back of this thread 😄 only have it in because we had visitors this weekend.
I’ve recently taken up crochet and find it soooooo relaxing and good because you can’t eat at the same time for fear of getting food on your work.
Also, I love 90% chocolate. 85% is flavourless to me but 90 is epic. People say you can only eat a small bit; but I think what they mean is that a little piece is satisfying in a way that milk choc is not. I could definitely eat a full bar of 90% in one go.

This is going to sound daft but i have to keep both hands busy so knitting or cross stitch or painting! Also went cold turkey on biscuits, chocolate etc and by week 3 the cravings subside

I keep my hands busy. I knit or crochet or embroider.

I have managed to cut out evening snacks. ( I still eat junk in the day but not eating them in the evening has led to some gradual weight loss. To start with I didn't go downstairs once the kids were in bed! Now I'm out the habit it's much easier.

The crafters have arrived on the thread

I like wine but try not to drink too much alcohol. Try some tonic water with a slice of lime and some ice. It feels like you're having a G&T (kind of...).

Could you prepare a platter of healthy nibbles like chopped fruit or veg during the day as I know I wouldn't have the energy or inclination to do it at night. I tried switching to yoghurts and even having a frothy coffee like a cappuccino with fat free milk made me feel like I was having something nice (I'm always shattered after my day with my bloody children so the caffeine doesn't keep me awake lol). Other than that tons of tea keep me happy . I've gotten much better over the past two months and DH has lost weight just from cutting down on snacking alone as we'd developed awful habits. Also I do find nice baths do help as well.

Knitting. Also I have a footstool I never get out when the kids are up, it feels weirdly luxurious to put my feet up once they're in bed! If the weather's nice then a walk round the block or just standing outside for a few minutes doing nothing can also help.

If you find something that works op let me know. I gave up smoking over 10 years ago and the cravings for something sweet are as bad as the ones I got when giving up smoking. I've tried the sugar free sweets and the give me a really bad tummy

Ice lollies. Just the ones with flavoured ice, no ice cream or chocolate. Take ages to eat, sort out the sweet craving, tiny amount of calories.
Obviously not exactly seasonal so eat while cosied up in a heated throw

For a while I did intermittent fasting only eating 10-6, having an absolute rule showed me not eating in the evenings wasn't that hard once ingot used to it (couldn't stick with it overall though, getting the kids out the door in the morning is too hard on an empty stomach!)