How to Minimize Midnight Cravings

You're lying in bed, staring at the ceiling and wide awake because that piece of chocolate cake in the refrigerator is calling your name. Even if you're not watching your weight, you'll regret that midnight snack when you wake up with a stomachache the next morning. Midnight cravings can feel impossible to ignore, but by following a few simple steps, you should be able to make it through the night without any trips to the kitchen.

Instructions

1. Avoid midnight cravings by eating several small, well balanced meals throughout the day. Don't skip dinner or your stomach will be sure to wake you up at midnight.

2. Eat a healthy diet. Reduce how much sugar, artificial sweetener and salt you eat. This includes things like diet soda that can actually increase your food cravings. When your body is getting well balanced and healthy food, you're less likely to wake up from a strong craving in the middle of the night.

3. Talk yourself out of it. Ask yourself if you're really hungry or if you're just bored because you can't sleep. Chances are, you really don't need that snack and you might be surprised at how much "mind over matter" actually works.

4. Choose healthier options if you absolutely must eat something. Try raw vegetables or fruit. You might also try eating an after dinner snack to keep hunger at bay until the morning.

5. Exercise. Daily exercise will release endorphins, which will make it easier for you to control your cravings at all times of the day.

6. Drink herbal tea or warm milk. Not only will drinking something warm fill up your stomach, curbing those hunger pangs, but it will also help you fall back to sleep.