By Abigail Warren ’16 | Staff Writer

It is an inevitable part of being a teenager to come home late Friday and Saturday nights after hanging out with your friends.  However, when we get home and still want to stay up purely for the fact that it’s a weekend and we have the ability to do so, we tend to turn to two things: Netflix and food. And an excessive amount of both.

But for many of us, it’s the food that has the worst impact on us when we wake up the next morning and feel as if we gained 20 pounds overnight. Thankfully, there are a couple tips to keep from this late night food binge.  

1. Curl up and get some sleep. This is probably the easiest and healthiest way to veer from eating at night. Instead of coming home and going straight to the fridge, go straight to your bed. When sleeping, there’s no possible way of overindulging. Also, sleep is an incredibly important part that contributes to a properly functioning body says WebMD Weight Loss Clinic. So, not only is it eliminating the binge, it’s helping your overall health.

2. Have a cup of tea. Before anything, make sure the tea is decaffeinated. If not, you’ll end up not being able to sleep and will be more susceptible to resorting to food than you were in the first place. Warm tea helps curb an appetite and will also balance the levels of water in your bod, MedicineNet said. Peppermint and chamomile are the most popular for the scents are strong causing a mindset that tells your body your eating when you’re actually not.

3. Stay busy after dinner. Plan an activity after your dinner. You can do anything really. Go for a walk, read a book, clean your room, pick out an outfit for school the next day, or anything that will keep your mind off a food. By staying busy you’re avoiding the issue that many have which is eating of boredom, according to WebMD Weight Loss Clinic.

4. Set a timer. Although this may sound weird, an alarm can actually help stop your want for food. When coming home late at night we don’t always just eat to eat, but we sometimes have major cravings, especially girls. A craving usually lasts ten to fifteen minutes MIT Medical said. So set a timer for 15 minutes, and wait.  After, the craving will be gone or at least weakened and the idea of food will seem unnecessary.

5. Eat a balanced dinner. This tip is not necessarily something that is done prior to this craving. Eating a balanced dinner with protein, healthy fats, and some greens will cause your body to remain full for longer WebMD Weight Loss Clinic said. With a balanced dinner your body will have less of a desire to come home and raid your fridge.  

6. Make people aware. If you’re someone who really struggles with this or someone who just knows this snacking is going to add up, then make your healthy lifestyle known. Tell your mom to text you late saturday night around curfew time reminding you to skip the late night snacks. Let your friends know you don’t want to partake in the massive snackapalzo when getting home from a party. Eating healthy is nothing to be ashamed of so let people know about your goals and they will respect them.

Everyone is different and we all have different ways to deal with overindulging. Also, just a point that should be noted, having a late night snack every once in awhile is no harm, so don’t be too hard on yourself.  Don’t deprive yourself. Just enjoy life–with moderation, of course.