How Do Other Sahm's Not Snack ALL DAY??

Do snack, but snack wisely...Always keep healthy snacks available--cut up celery, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, hummus, fruit, nuts.

My boys are almost grown now. But I work only part time away from home.
I snack constantly. But they are healthful--green smoothie, fruit, nuts, seeds, carrots and such.

How about changing the snacks so either you or all of you eat carrot sticks, apple slices, etc.?

I find that if I don't get a bowl for myself, I am less likely to snack on things like goldfish since I don't tend to eat from the box.

If your kids don't eat "kids snacks," then you won't be able to. We don't buy that stuff. My son's snacks are healthy muffins, fruits, veggies, cheese quesadillas w/ healthy tortillas, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, cheese, etc.

If it's not healthy for you, it's not healthy for your children. People always suggest for adults to "snack wisely," which is great advice! However, why do we not have our kids snack wisely? It doesn't really make sense to me, that we worry so much about eating unhealthy snacks, but don't worry about it for the kids. I don't know...something to think about.

As I remember it was too hard to eat while I was chasing the little buggers.

I say snack away, but in small quantities! Really, eating many small "meals" a day is supposed to be best. So, make sure that you're not really loading up on the actual meals. Stock up your fridge with healthier snacks for you or better yet - get the kids in on the healthy snacks too that way when you are indulging together...no guilt! There's great ideas out there how to make healthy snacks fun for your little ones. Lots of fresh fruit, low fat cottage cheese, yogurts, etc.

My kids don't get "kid snacks" like goldfish and fruit snacks... they get fruit and veggie slices, cheese sticks, trail mix, handful of cashews/almonds, homemade guacamole/salsa with chips or a quesadilla, tortilla dipped in pure honey, raisins, yogurt, applesauce, hard boiled egg, humus on whole wheat crackers.... healthy stuff that is okay if I want to graze too. Which really, is better for me and them anyways. Once every few days I will give them a small package of fruit snacks as a special treat. If it's not good for an adult, it's not good for a kid. Also, drinking lots of water, and eating a carb and a protein together (like pb on crackers) will help your blood sugar not crash while exercising.

It's when I bake those darn cookies or muffins when I have to watch myself!

I feel like I do that out of boredom, or lack of movement. When the kids are snacking I seize the opportunity to fold some clothes in the dryer, or unload he dishwasher. OR make myself and adult breakfast or snack at the same time and tell myself to only eat what was made for me! Its a lot of self control, and it is hard. just remind yourself that you dont need it, and push through it! I know you can do it :)

We are picky on what our snacks are. We have only fruits and nuts as snacks. We sometimes, rarely, will have goldfish or crackers, but that is very rare.

So, we eat breakfast. A little while later, we have a fruit for a snack. Then we eat lunch. Then a little while later, we have another fruit for a snack. Then we eat dinner. Then I have a avocado dip thing for my night snack.

So...that's my solution - make the snacks be healthy and it doesn't matter if you eat it or not! It does mean we have to avoid bringing other things into the house, though. Because if it's in the house, I WILL eat it. We don't do desserts, except very rarely. We don't have candy in the house. We only drink water (eating lots of fruit gives you energy). We definitely don't do the typical snacks that kids have these days. It helps a lot with my desire to snack. If I have chips, I will be tempted to eat them all. But when it's fruit for snacks, it's much easier to control.

I agree with several other posts you received in terms of types of snacks that you're eating. Definitely have your coffee with cream and sugar in the morning. I would never give that up!! But instead of keeping processed foods in the house for daily consumption, move in the direction of offering fresh fruit or carrot sticks, nuts (assuming no allergies in your house) - my kids love cashews, "popsicles" made from roasting apples or mango then pureeing them and pouring them into popsicle molds to freeze, apples with peanut butter. The key is to offer foods that have a higher nutritional and antioxidant content so you're packing a punch with your snacks and fueling your bodies instead of just empty snacking. I certainly don't think it's a crime to keep goldfish in your house, but maybe just fill 2 little baggies with them as a snack to offer in the stroller on the way home from the park...when you won't be snacking with them. At home, put out fresh, whole food options. If all of you are snacking on carrots or red pepper with hummus or a greek yogurt dip, you aren't going to feel bad about snacking at all. :)

I have to opt out on this one. Im a sahm that does :(

I snack a lot thru the day whether I am at home or work. A nutritionist once told me: God designed us to be travelers and grazers, and it's healthier than 3 huge meals that many of us eat.

The key with snacks is the kind you choose!

I snack a lot on: grapes, banana chunks, baby carrots, cashews, greek yogurt, edaname (soy nuts), almonds (the nuts are best for you in the raw form, not processed...) and I feel great! No sugar highs and lows and I lost 6 pounds since I attended this talk by the nutritionist.

Snacks are good for you! They keep your metabolism up!

Some things that worked for me (I dropped 3 lbs this past week and exercise for an hour daily):

1 - Kids AND adults should have 3 meals and 2 small snacks a day. There's no reason to be constantly snacking - your body doesn't need that much fuel, and much of the time, you're eating out of boredom, not hunger. My kids know that snack time is at 11 and 3 (which is 2-3 hours between our meals). We don't snack if it isn't snack time, that simple. Kitchen is closed.

2 - Find stuff that you like and is good for you to keep you out of the kid's goodies, which tend to be empty calories. Ideally, a snack should have around 200 cals, 12g of fat or less, and at least 5g of protein and 3g of fiber. This ratio will keep you fuller for longer. Eating goldfish and fruit treats will NOT fill you up! My fav snack as of late has been a sliced banana with a tsp of almond butter and a Tbs of toasted coconut. Like dessert! :) Be mindful of what you're eating. Put good things in your body, and make sure you stick to portion control. Yes, almonds and grapes are good for you, but not 500 cals of almonds and grapes. Calories are still calories.

3 - If you're still tempted, chew gum. Sugar free Juicy Fruit is my weapon of choice - 5 cals! I go through 12 pieces a day easily. But I never graze!

4 - Finally, STAY AWAY FROM THE FOOD! Seriously! If it's tempting, then keep it out of the house. I know I WILL eat an entire bag of caramels if they're in the house. I am that weak. Find things to do away from the kitchen, or if you're craving, tackle a project (like yardwork) that won't mix with snacking. I'm too lazy to have to wash my hands constantly to snack, plus a chore gets done, so it's a win-win!

My kids are at school all day and I still snack! I SO need a job!

It is a vicious cycle, and it takes 21 days to break (so they say). You have to consciously make the right choice till your cravings go away (think, you crave what you eat). Things I've found that work are:

1: KIND brand nut bars.
2: Drink fiber!! (I buy Psyllium Husk, berry flavored from Whole Foods)
3: Greek Yogurt
4: Crisp apple with favorite nut butter
5: Green smoothie

This girl www.totallyhealthyrecipes.com has some good snack ideas that your whole family can eat. If you find you eat the same "kid" snacks as your kids, try switching things up so you don't feel so guilty AND you know they are getting good food too:)

It IS hard, and was a huge adjustment for me when I quit working and became a mommy. I had to start making sure that I got full from eating my meals so I was less tempted to snack, and try to only offer healthy snacks such as baby carrots and fresh or dried fruit instead of crackers and other processed foods. (healthier for everyone). Also, if I am not hungry, I don't even taste the food, not one bite. I set the kids up with their snack, and get busy doing something else, like fold clothes or unload the dishwasher! :)

I try to have fresh fruit around - in a bowl on the counter or table. The kids will eat it and then if I'm in a snacking mood, I eat fruit. It's sweet but nutritious.

Yeah, it can be really hard! I find that if I take the time to cut up veggies early in the week and keep them handy then I'm more likely to grab those. Hummus or low fat ranch is good and a handful or two of Goldfish will be okay too! ;)

I chew a lot of gum!!!

Snacking throughout the day is a sign of boredom. I would just stay busy. I myself stay busy by always cleaning and I NEVER eat when I clean. I cleaned someone's house today and I think I ate a granola bar at the most.

If you're trying to lose weight, maybe keep some inspirational notes out and about to remind you to stear clear of the extra snacking. Always keep a pitcher of water out and drink throughout the day. The water will help keep you full to where you won't be so hungry. Have some healthy fruits and/or vegetables sliced, rinsed, and ready to eat in the fridge so that if you feel the need to snack, you can grab that instead of something less healthy.

i do snack all day...i just don't eat full meals

Yep- absolutley, it's sooo easy to not even realize when you are doing it! I noticed myself doing the same thing since staying at home, so I just quit buying junk food- I buy the things my hubbs likes in his lunch (I pack his) but those things are off limits and "only for daddy" so there aren't many unhealthy choices for the rest of us- I also keep a bowl of fruit on the table regularly, I tell myself that if I'm not hungry enough to eat a banana,apple ect. . instead, then I'm not hungry. I still catch myself popping some extra cheerios, but whatever- haha, "grazing" is supposed to be healthier than large meals since you work off what you eat throughout the day! The key is work off as many calories as you consume, so just snack of the ones you can get worked off- apple vs.cookie. . . after all, healthy eating habits are super important for the little ones! Best of luck~

Protein in the morning cuts my carb cravings. I also stay away from as much as sugar as possible. Probably that sugar in your coffee sets you up for wanting more sugar (or carbs) to give you that rush. At least that is how it works for me.
Try substituting Sweet N Lo or NutraSweet in your coffee, have an egg or yogurt (not the dessert kind with lots of extra sugar) and see how that works. Usually if I get into a bad snacking habit it takes a few days to change my ways-I'll crave the junk. But if I can pick a couple of days when I'm busy, busy-then I don't miss the snacking and I can break the cycle.
Once I cut out the carbs in the morning I usually just don't get hungry.
The other thing I do is buy grape tomatoes, baby carrots and/or walnuts and leave a bowl of those on the counter. I will walk by and pop a couple of tomatoes in my mouth and satisfy that mindless "throwing something in my mouth" urge.
I think part of it is boredom, also. Little kids are precious and darling but there is a lot of mindless mothering that occurs with that age. "let's read that book for the millionth time, mommy." " can we play Candy Land again...and again...and again?" I just made it a plan to get out of the house every day when my kids were little. A walk. A trip to McDonalds to the play area. (Now Chik Fil A but they weren't around when my kids were babies!) We had lunch play dates probably two or three times a week just so I could engineer adult time and the kids could have someone else (peers) entertain them.
It is MUCH easier to not put on weight than it is to take it off. I do find that living in Texas I have a tendency to put on weight in the summer because it is just so dang hot. Too hot to exercise. Not sure what the answer is for that problem-move to Colorado for the summer?
Good luck.

When I was a SAHM, I gave my daughter lots of chopped tomatoes, chopped avocados, cut-up grapes and strawberries, etc. for snack. That way I wasn't tempted by Goldfish and other processed foods, and if I snacked with her, it would go toward my servings of fruits or veggies for the day (I never get enough!).

I'm actually worse now that I'm working again--I end up snacking all day in my office, and my desk drawer doesn't have refrigeration, so of course I'm keeping processed foods there...

I do find myself snacking all day but I try to be healthy about it. Esp since I'm pregnant again. ;)

What you eat is important (most important), but quantity is important, too. I allow myself unlimited gum and hard candy - not jelly beans, caramel, etc., hard candy that takes a long time to suck on. Sugar free gum, but real candy. 5 calories is way better than 100. I also get lots of herbal teas. I should train my mouth to just be empty, but these tricks help. Mint gum is the best. You just don't want anything else when you have the taste of mint in your mouth. Great question!

I find myself hungry. frequently. Because I get SO wrapped up in gardening, cleaning, cooking, activities, organizing, "teaching", that I often forget to eat. When WE snack (only ONE or TWO snacks a day), we always choose something like celery sticks, nuts, oranges, apples, broccoli, etc, so the kids get their veggies and fruit (which is also served with EVERY MEAL). I SOMETIMES eat with them, but I find that the time they are sitting down and eating is a PERFECT time to make a phone call or do something I find hard doing when their mouths aren't occupied.

I will have to say I don't know what you mean by "kid snacks". I mean, I do, but isn't there enough info out there about healthy eating that parents CAN'T avoid by now? did you know that 2/3rds of our diet should consist of veggies and fruit? It is your responsibility to get your kid used to a healthy diet. The earlier you start, the better. At meals, my kids eat the veggies FIRST, by their own choosing. It IS possible to accomplish this.

My Four Girls are 8, 6, 4 and 3.The 4 and 3 year old are at home with me.

Good Luck!

(Just read your "what happened"... keep up the good work! :) )

have fresh celery cut and ready to munch, apples, bannanas, strawberries (wash all of them at once so they are ready) nutts and other quick to grab food. even making a veggie tray for yourself.

I've been having fresh fruit, yogurt, veggies, lowfat cheese etc. when my daughter has her snack. I follow this schedule with my 4 y/o: 8am. breakfast, 10am. snack (fruit for me), 12pm. lunch, 3pm. snack (yogurt for me), 6pm. dinner. So essentially, you are eating 4 times a day, your child see's the healthy stuff your eating & soon wants to eat the same thing! It works for me, I also get out and literally run with her when I start getting bored being home. I DID used to snack on everything before I tried this. Good luck!

I think it's nearly impossible to not snack. I don't know if you are like me but if I feel deprived at all, I end up over eating. Instead, like others have suggested, just have healthy snack at the ready. I used to cut up veggies at the beginning of the week and put them in snack bags in the fridge for lunches, on the go or just quick snacks. Some low fat cheese or fat free dressing, whole grain crackers, pretzels, or 100 calorie snack bags are some good suggestions. If you are exercising you will need extra calories, and fruits/veggies are a great way to eat but not pack on the unwanted calories. HUmmus, yogurt cottage cheese are some other good high protein low fat options.

I actually try to be a SAHM but LEAVE the house. I am forever walking places with the kids in stoller or I've just bought a bike with trailer to let us go farther... I fight the same battle if I'm home... I'm eating... I've found if we are out and about I don't and I'm getting exercise.

good luck!

I myself am a SAHM of 2 kiddos, my son is 6 and in 1st grade the babygirl will be 3 this Sunday. So when says she's hungry or I want a snack, it tends to trigger my my tummy too. Well needless to say, I'd eat when she does, and when your trying to loose weight that's not easy. So here's what I did... I stocked up on fresh fruits, and yogurt with grapenuts, 100 calorie snack packs so I could still have sweets, but not too much. I eliminated the high carbs and fats. So when your little one wants a snack or just to eat, you can too. After all, we are supposed to eat 3 small meals a day with 2-3 healthy snacks and its key to always eat a healthy breakfast, it trains or bodies for that day and the higher in fiber your meals and snacks are the longer we stay full. At the same time we are helping our kids to learn to eat healthy. With eating aside, I also found a way to stay busy by splitting up house work and laundry throughout the week and biggest thing... I found a job I can stay home and do which fills in the gaps. Its fun and really easy. And for only $10, I started my own AVON business. If you would like to know more you can visit my website, www.youravon.com/jackies2504 and feel free to contact me. Even if you just need to chat. I love meeting new people. Hope this helps!! :-)

I was doing the same thing until I joined Weight Watchers. Now I have to account for EVERYTHING I put in my mouth. I only get a certain number of points a day and I have to make them count! So instead of grabbing 3 cookies, I will have an apple with a tbls of all-natural peanut butter. Maybe you should experiment and write everything down that you put into your mouth. That way, you can look at it at the end of the day and see how much you are actually consuming. Then when you go to grab a handful of crackers, you might think twice because you will have to write it down.

There is nothing wrong with snacking all day. It's actually good for you.
I'm a nibbler. And thin.
It depends on what you're snacking on.
Why not snack on come carrots or celery sticks? Pretzels can be a good snack. How about apple slices or melon?
Having a few Goldfish here and there won't hurt you. A few fruit snacks here and there won't hurt you.
If you are trying to lose weight, you'd be surprised how much you can lose just switching to black coffee. I only have cream and sugar when we go out to breakfast as a treat. I can take the cream and sugar or leave it.
If you are a nibbler, like me, just find different things to nibble on. Grapes, a few low sodium tricuits or wheat thins. Did you know a boiled egg only has 80 calories? Pickles are another good snack.
Snacking isn't bad for you at all. It just depends on what you snack on and the amount you have at a time.

If you "snack" at regular intervals, you won't get overly hungry which might lead you to overdo at meal time. Or, eat an entire bag of Goldfish crackers because you're hungry.
There are so many good things to snack on.

Just my opinion.

It is easy...I am not at home! I am on the run all day. SAHM? I am on the go mom..full time.

I guess I personally don't even have a desire to eat the snacky stuff. I try to drink lots of water and exercise. To me it is a conscious choice what I shove in my mouth...and I want to make my calories count so I tend to go for the healthier choices. I picture my swimsuit...and that keeps me in line!

When I eat healthy..the occasional slip ups don't really matter. I loooove an occasional treat or handful of brightly colored orange cheeto twisters.

Good luck and best wishes!

I see you already responded but...

remove the temptation. If i get my daughter a bowl of goldfish... I portion out a bowl and give it to her, then put the original box back in the pantry. I cannot resist a bag of potato chips on the counter... so if I see them, away they go before I have a chance to start drooling and thinking "oh just a few won't hurt... "

I try to eat a "hearty" breakfast like oatmeal, or scrambled eggs or a protein shake... because if i eat cereal, I am hungry in an hour or two. I drink my coffee with cream. at lunch I go for high protein and low calorie, like a turkey sandwich or a tuna salad, or even an egg sandwich. dinner is my biggest meal, but I follow dinner with 30 minutes of brisk walking. I also allow my self one "treat" ever day... like a glass of wine, a cookie, ice cream... etc. I try to judge my hunger on a scale of 1-10. at 1 I am not really hungry at all (I am feeling pretty full, so I might just be craving a snack out of boredom) at 5 I am moderately hungry, my "tummy is grumbling", but I am not quite ready to eat the back end out of a running rhino, and at 10 I am so starving hungry that I am nauseous. I try to eat sometime after I am at 5, but before I reach 10 (which is when I usually overcompensate and eat TOO much.

snacking all day is actually not "bad" for you, as long as you are eating healthy, lower calorie, small portioned snacks and your eating to hunger. I count calories, and try to hit "goal ranges" for things like protein. I have found that tracking my calories takes about 15/day max and it makes a world of difference ion controlling my diet. I am on a diet and I am 3 pounds from hitting my pre-pregnancy weight (and my baby will be 3 months old on the 16th- woohoo!)

I use "babyfit" which is a website by Spark People made for breastfeeding moms. tracking my foods and having a progress report is essential to my success.

-M.

PS always eat a salad or veggie BEFORE your meal. You fill up on relatively no-calorie foods (but watch those dressings) that are often rich in nutrients and then you will feel much more satisfied with a smaller portion of dinner. Oh and water... drinking like a fish does a ton to help you feel full longer, and it helps your body "flush out" that fat!

Good luck!
-M.

Self discipline and a picture of a grossly obese person in the pantry.

It's not worth losing my body for that.

I'm a believer in moderation, I eat healthy but if I crave a cheeseburger, I eat one.

It does take time to break a bad habit and that's what you seem to have.

Snack on things that fill you up and when you grab a couple goldfish, etc... Think about how long you'll work out to get rid of the calories. If it's worth it... Go for it.

Drink a lot of water.