Im a newbie too. This is JMO. I think we need to work WITH our basic nature instead of fighting it. You need to figure out what foods speak to you and then make better choices. I can buckle down and eat celery and alfalfa sprouts for a while but sooner or later Im going to fall off my diet wagon.
Are you eating nuts and cheese because they are handy or because that's what you want. There are fuelings that are cheese flavored. Im a snacker too. I find that it helps to chose fuels that have more pieces. Keeps me busy longer. I like the cinnamon sugar sticks. I eat my cereal dry as a snack.
FYI cheese is on plan. See page 3 of 4 on the Meatless Options list.
6oz or 1.5 cups shredded low fat cheese 1.5 grams fat per oz.
4oz or 1.0 cup shredded reduced fat cheese 3 to 6 grams fat per oz.
http://optaviamedia.com/pdf/LEARN/OP...Info-Sheet.pdf
I have a sweet tooth and Im a grazer. So my fuelings include bars, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, etc. Im also on what I refer to as an 8&1 and sometimes a 9&1 plan. I have 3/4 of my protein/lean and two of my greens at my meal. This leaves me two extra mini meals 1/4 protein/lean and one green for later. If I don't use my fats in a recipe I use them for a mini meal too.
You could even do 1/2 protein/lean and get another mini meal. The thing is you don't have to eat your L&G all at once,