I personally struggle with overeating at night.  I generally eat pretty well during the day.  I eat breakfast within ½ hour of waking up (to start my metabolism); I eat a mid-morning snack, a healthy lunch and a mid-afternoon snack.  But when the evening comes around self-honoring choices around food can often go “out the window”.

 Pitfall number one – snacking before dinner:  I scan the cupboard looking for snacks.  I’m hungry and dinner isn’t ready.  Chips?  Crackers? What can I find?  I’m only going to eat a handful – but half a bag later I find myself recognizing a familiar pattern.  I have completely gone unconscious and chomped and smacked my way through handfuls of crunchy, salty little tidbits. 

 Pitfall 1 ½:  If there is beer in the fridge – and I deserve just one – than the beer and the bag of snacks are gone.

 Pitfall two:  Portion size – it depends how much I cook.  I tend to unconsciously serve out whatever I make.  And, of course, I’ve must clean my plate, right?  (Remember the starving people in Africa).

 Pitfall three: Dessert – it sounds a lot like “deserve” – I deserve a sweet treat – it was a hard day.