Cost is a concern for me too. Just me and two kids. I believe we have embarked on something that just takes a committment financially. Time will tell if I will be able to continue it financially also. I know my habits are already changing in regards to spending on food: no more $1.60 coffee's, oops I forget my lunch days and end up buying at work for $6+, snacks from the vending machine, too tired to cook lets eat out, or take out/delivery. I spent a lot of my money on quick and bad (but many times tasty) food. I am not interested enough in actually figuring out the difference, but I am sure there is a savings of some kind in there somewhere!
My kids are totally on board with me too. Not that they have a say in how the money is spent, but when I say No to eating out or certain things, they seem to understand a little. For as much as they can.
I drink coffee most days and most days measure the 1oz of skim milk.
My PM snack is between 8:30-10pm. Just depends on the schedule. Many nights I am not eating dinner until 8-8:30 at night. I try to eat it about 1-2 hours after dinner and 1 hour before I think I will lay down. But, it's hard to figure that out sometimes. I know it is suggested to not eat after 8 or for several hours before bed, but with my schedule, I would never have time to get in all the meals. There have been times when I eat the snack and go right to bed.
Tonight, we ate dinner at almost 9pm and I just had my snack and I am about to go to bed. It was a weird "i don't care to eat, so I forgot" sort of day. Didn't mean to eat late, it just happened.
I don't keep a food diary, but perhaps you could keep one and see if the PM snack times make a difference? Not sure how you would know it was just that, but you could try. Some have the snack mid-afternoon instead of PM too. Just get in your three packets and make it work for you.