Q. I’m trying to be an Intuitive Eater. But I’m not sure what to do when I get hungry at night. Around 9 p.m. or so, about an hour before I go to bed, I feel hungry. Should I listen to my body and eat? Or is it smarter not to eat something so late at night? Anonymous

A. Many people have the perception that eating past a certain time in the evening will cause weight gain. But that’s not true. Our bodies don’t punch time-clocks. For example, there is not a fat-making shift that begins at 7:00 p.m. Also, many cultures eat later in the evening, such as in Spain.

Mindless eating in the evening, while watching television or surfing the internet, however, could lead to overeating and weight gain. But the issue in this case, is the mindless eating, not the time of night.

Becoming an Intuitive Eater is about being attuned to your body—hearing and responding to its biological cues of hunger and fullness. Generally, if you are biologically hungry, it’s a good idea to eat. There are a couple of ways you could explore you evening hunger.

• Biological —Are you eating enough food throughout the day? If you eat on the lighter side—it’s possible to feel hungry later in the evening. I’d consider eating a light, but satisfying, snack (since it can feel uncomfortable trying to sleep on a full stomach).
• Habit—Is it possible you are in the habit of eating before bedtime? (I don’t get that impression from your email, but it’s a question worth exploring.) If eating a snack is part of your wind-down routine before going to bed, it seems that the night eating is more about desire and automatic habit, not biological hunger. If that’s the case, I’d suggest opting for a different relaxing routine—such as reading or taking a bath.

If you are not sure which approach to explore, you could also try eating a light snack and take note of its effect on your sleep and your energy level in the morning. Or, explore the impact of not eating. Do you find yourself having difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep (hunger can do that)?

Ultimately, every eating experience is an opportunity to learn something about your body.

Copyright © 2010 by Evelyn Tribole, MS, RD  Published at www.EvelynTribole.com

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