Fill 'er up!

Say you did everything right today - started the day with breakfast, had your two snacks and a high-protein lunch - but you're still walking in the door at 6:00 STARVING! Sure, it's time for dinner and you want to be hungry, but it's a dangerous time to be starving, so here's a trick: drink two glasses of water as soon as you get home, and follow these with an apple, a dill pickle or a small piece of lowfat cheese. The apple is filled with water and will expand in your stomach, has some fiber so it's naturally filling, and it's a great way to control your blood sugar (which could be why you're starving); the dill pickle is crunchy and salty, satisfying both your need to eat something and eat something that isn't going to lead to eating out of a bag of anything; and the lowfat cheese is a protein/fat combination that slows digestion, dulls hunger and, because of the fat, is really satisfying. You could even eat all three, but honestly, an apple and pickle don't really sound that good together...anyway, try one of these - it will at least give you enough time to think about what you want to have for dinner - a light and healthy meal that will help you to get a good night's sleep and wake up ready for a big breakfast! Melissa