When the urge strikes, it is almost uncontrolable! It drives me nuts. What are your strategies to avoid snacking? (and I mean the unplanned snacking that you SHOULDN'T be eating!)

sometimes i try to guide it to a lower point item that still would satisfy me....like instead of the snickers bar, i have a cocopuff cereal bar. neither is really healthy, but the cocopuff bar is fortified with things to make it 'healthier'.

i also will evaluate if i'm wanting to eat something cuz i'm feeling a certain feeling. if i recognize that, i sometimes can avoid the mindless eating. if i'm really annoyed and pissed, then i'll still eat it, but at least i'm aware of why i'm eating it, and how it will affect me later.

another way to avoid the mindless snacking is to work on some messy project. it's really hard to eat food when your hands are covered in dirt from gardening, or paint and glue. well, i suppose you still can, but it's less appetizing.

Do you plan snacks into your day? You can snack. I usually have a piece of fruit and 6 almonds or 4 walnut halves in the afternoon. Sometimes I have LF Triscuit (4) and 2 T. Hummus, celery sticks and V-8 Juice.

You subconsciously train yourself to turn to food to satisfy needs other than hunger and you can train yourself away from this.

Do you know a craving only lasts 15 minutes? Tell yourself you'll wait 15 minutes and then you can have what ever it is you want. Drink a big glass of water. Try to get interested in something else and usually you'll find you don't want it.

If you want a chocolate bar, have a cup of FF SF Hot Chocolate. This may sound crazy but it works - when you want something sweet, eat a dill pickle.

Susan, kudos to you on your wonderful weight loss!
These are all terrific ideas.
Princess, all I can add is that sometimes it helps me to go somewhere quiet (as far from food as possible) and take a short nap, listen to music, or read. (If I have a few good books on hand at all times, that's a real help.) I snack when I'm nervous or restless, and I find that just calming down a bit helps.

Re: Trixiepup's idea on lower point snacks, I keep a basket with pre-portioned snacks in those little snack size baggies. Keeps me from eating out of a box or bag, when I might lose count or eat mindlessly.
hth,
Regards,
Jan