10 Things to Do Instead of Snacking (and 1300 Calorie Day)

Day 26 of my weight loss journal, for Bikini prep 2023

Since I’ve been writing almost every day, I thought it would be fun to answer some of your questions at the beginning of each post!

Today’s question came from Trudy.. She asks:

How do you manage snacking? I feel like I’m in a mental snacking phase and end up snacking all the time.

I KNOW TRUDY! Me too.

The first thing to acknowledge is, I’m not equating the desire to snack with true hunger. This desire creeps up when you finish a meal, and are satisfied, but something tells you, “that was so good, let’s just have a little more!” Or, sitting at your desk after lunch and thinking, “you know what would be really nice right now, some trail mix!”

The way I can tell the difference is if I’m truly hungry, anything will do, including carrots! But, when I’m just in the mood for snacking, it’s usually a craving for something that I know is in the pantry and I just WANT it! Cereal, trail mix, bread, tortillas, crackers. Those are all foods that I just enjoy eating.

Whereas carrots are something I’ll eat (and enjoy), but it’s because I’m hungry.

So, what do I do when I’m feeling snacky?! I engage in these LOW-EFFORT activities until the urge passes. Anything too “hard” will just make me want to turn to food more. Check out this post for the last time I wrote about this with 8 ways I deal with hunger).

1. My number one go-to, low-effort activity, when it’s in the middle of the day, and I just don’t feel like working is to watch Youtube (but not watch food or recipe channels). I’m talking about watching true crime, stock market and money channels or celebrity gossip channels. That will at least take my mind off of getting a snack, by doing something I feel is also indulgent.
2. Play a game like numbers match on my phone. This mindless game can distract me from a lot of things.
3. Play the piano. I’m not a piano player, but I did start taking piano lessons this year!
4. I listen to a podcast. I just kick back in a recliner, put the ear buds in and listen!
5. Scroll mindlessly through social media.
6. Put on makeup or do my hair. This might sound weird, and also a waste of time since I work from home, but I really enjoy putting on my makeup! And, I have a LOT of hair, so if I decide to curl it, it’s a solid 30 minute event. LOL
7. Paint my nails.
8. PUZZLES! I really love putting together puzzles.
9. Watch either Law & Order or Dateline/20/20 on TV. Often, while I’m playing the numbers game on my phone.
10. And finally, just read. I love reading magazines and I have an entire book shelf of self-help books I’ve never actually finished.

Your turn! Tell me in the comments. What low effort activities do you go to when all you want to do is snack?

And finally, if you really just want to eat, but don’t want to blow your calories for the day, try some foods on my low and no calorie food list here.

𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐒

1262 calories, 113 g protein, 118 g carbs, 37 g fat

New protein alert!! Instead of chicken for lunch, I got crazy and swapped it out for tuna! It was pretty great! 😅 😂 🤣

𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐅𝐀𝐒𝐓: 1 cup egg whites with half ounce of mozzarella cheese. Started with 2 slices of Sara Lee 45 calorie bread, and then ate one more after breakfast (so 3 pieces of bread!), and 2 slices turkey bacon.

𝐋𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐇: I didn’t have any cooked chicken, so I opened a can of tuna and added 1 tablespoon mayo, lettuce, black beans, corn, half ounce of cheese, and some tomatoes.

𝐒𝐍𝐀𝐂𝐊: Easy snack today- just a Built Bar and 1/2 ounce of almonds

𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑: Kind of a hodge podge of food (I haven’t gotten groceries since we got back in town). So, I made chicken thighs, I ate an old baked potato from my fridge, some frozen veggies PLUS canned green beans. All with a mixture of salt, garlic salt, and onion powder.

Day 26 is in the books!!