What to do after dinner when all you want is chocolate

This is a question I get asked quite often.

What do I do after dinner when all I want is chocolate or something sweet? It’s the end of the day, kids in bed and I feel like I need a little something!

The first thing I say is. ‘It’s just a habit!’

Did you know:

It takes 3 weeks to form a habit
They are easier to form than break
If you repeat a behaviour (Good or Bad) often enough your body & mind will get used to it
It’s time to make good habits and break the bad ones!

How to ditch bad habits:

Make a conscious decision to give up/change
Make a commitment to yourself
Think about the damage your habit can be causing
Understand it won’t be easy!
Replace what you are taking away with a healthy alternative
Start small if you need too
You need to know the benefits
Tell a friend – or the forum – be accountable
If you don’t succeed the first time, keep trying!
Remove the temptations
Think about how you feel when you have kicked the habit
Do it now, what are you waiting for?

The most common habits & solutions:

Snacking after dinner
Picking at your kids food
Making excuses about exercise
3pm sugar cravings
Eating a block of chocolate vs 1-2 squares!
Coffee and alcohol

Snacking after dinner – Brush your teeth, go to bed, get out a few nuts and your tea as your snack, or do something else to keep you occupied! Ask yourself if you are actually hungry – could you be dehydrated? Try some water first!!

Picking at your kids food - When I prepare Chelsea’s dinner I usually have some raw carrots, cucumber, celery etc that I am cutting up ready to cook, snack on those sorts of things!

Making excuses about exercise – Think about how you will feel after your workout! Think about how you will feel if you don’t do a workout. Which one wins?

3pm sugar cravings – Did you have enough protein, good fats and carbs at lunch? Have a healthy snack, try some water

Eating a block of chocolate vs 1-2 squares! – Mmmm, this comes down to listening to your body again. Are you emotionally eating?

There will be times when cravings hit, ie time of the month – that is when you need to listen to your body. Do you really want that chocolate? How will you feel after you have it? If you make the decision to have it, which is fine, just a little bit. Enjoy it and move on. No guilt.

None of this means you will never eat chocolate again or never have another glass of wine again.

Once you get a feel for your body and learn to listen to it, you will know if you actually want a glass of wine, or a piece of chocolate and if you REALLY do, have it! Just in moderation! There are often so many times I would love a glass of wine, but I know that I would just be having it to have it. Not to actually really enjoy it!

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182 Comments

- - ChiWren said
  - 10 Dec 2023
    2:51 pm
I like to cut up some fruit and slowly eat it. Maybe have a spoonful of peanut butter with it.

- - mom486197 said
  - 29 Sep 2023
    5:50 pm
Great article and great reminder that you can take small steps to stop a habit.

- - meedee said
  - 22 Sep 2022
    11:43 am
I have my cup of tea each night after dinner with 1 choc tim tam

- - ella12 said
  - 09 Jul 2018
    4:15 pm
Thank you for the advice, cheers.

- - rovermum said
  - 09 Jul 2018
    9:58 am
I absolutely agree chocolate is a habit and try not to have it in the house… but, when we do it does not last long.

- - mom112217 said
  - 29 Sep 2017
    8:35 am
The 3pm sugar cravings l sometimes do,thanks for the aricle-good tips!

- - Melissa89 said
  - 27 Jul 2016
    1:15 pm
This definitely sounds like me. Always reaching for the treats

- - mom80542 said
  - 07 Dec 2015
    8:10 am
In the past when I would consciously diet – the glass of water trick did work where I felt that i was still hungry. I must admit that In the last 5 years or so I have been a lot lazier than usual and seem to make excuses not to exercise – likes it too hot, its too cold or its raining etc. I am actually an active person and trek in the mountains a lot so i have all the hi tech outdoor gear. So lets face it i have walked in some pretty dodgy terrain and weather – so really my excuses should not really fly. Now that I have had my first child I think I need to get moving again as I intend to get my daughter trekking as soon as we can. I hope I do not teach her my bad habits. Great incentive not to I think

- - mom90758 said
  - 03 Nov 2015
    6:15 pm
Emotional eating is a very big problem! Thanks for sharing this lovely article!

- - mom94125 said
  - 19 Oct 2015
    6:20 pm
lol a little bit never hurt either

- - mom109229 said
  - 30 Sep 2015
    10:28 pm
This was an interesting mini article. Thanks for posting!

- - mom81879 said
  - 30 Sep 2015
    9:28 pm
I feel this way every night. It’s such a battle to not snack after dinner, but I’m getting there.

- - kymichelle said
  - 29 Sep 2015
    9:05 pm
Brushing my teeth after tea really helps me…most of the time!

- - dannsbuild said
  - 23 Sep 2015
    3:41 pm
I like chocolate a lot! Really interesting article! Thanks for sharing this!

- - EllenG89 said
  - 31 May 2015
    10:10 am
Loved all this advice! I am super guilty of quiet a few of these and are greatful for the handy tips! Thanks!

- - kristik79 said
  - 30 Apr 2015
    9:48 am
I cut out my chocolate for 3 months, I was one of those people who had the 3pm sugar craving & after dinner before bed would have a hot chocolate, I went cold turkey for 3 months & then easter came around & I thought 1 egg wouldn’t hurt me, well yes it did. I know have to try & break the habbit again but I am determined & I know I will get back on track.

- - mom94378 said
  - 16 Feb 2015
    1:01 pm
I wasn’t thinking about eating chocolate till I read this, now I’m tempted.

- - tam_watters said
  - 09 Feb 2015
    1:10 pm
I found that dates make the perfect alternative to chocolate. My weight watchers leader swears by them!

- - stephrat said
  - 06 Feb 2015
    9:57 pm
Even though I’m on a special eating program for my weight management, I never want to feel as though I have to deprive myself, so I practise a lot of moderation eating when it comes to indulgences such as chocolate, ice-cream, cakes, etc. When I crave chocolate, I choose a dark chocolate that is sugar-free and I limit myself to only 2 squares, once or the most, twice a week. If it’s ice-cream, it will be a baby scoop, usually eaten with a shot of sugarless coffee. As for cakes and pastries, I eat them on a cheat day that I allow myself to have weekly. As important as it is to practise healthy eating, I also want to enjoy my indulgences from time to time. Balance is indeed the best practice!

- - mel1 said
  - 06 Feb 2015
    6:46 am
Chocolate, chips, icecream……all tempting after dinner. It definitely is a habit. I manage to break it for a while, and stick to a cup of tea after dinner. But after indulging occasionally with the kids after dinner, the habit sneaks back in. Thanks for the article….I’m inspired to break the habit again and stick to it this time!