Many of us really want to eat something – or many things – during the evening hours.

There are several potential reasons for this behaviour. If you are truly hungry after dinner, it usually means that you haven’t eaten well or haven’t had enough to eat throughout the day. But frequently, eating is part of a winding down and relaxing, or it may even be a reward for a hard, busy day. Choices may include wine, chocolate or comfort foods.

For some, it’s merely habit – you are used to sitting down to unwind, read or watch TV and snacking, often mindlessly!

The danger is that we are often unaware, or simply lose track, of the amount we are consuming. And we are often eating high fat, high sugar, high calorie foods when we are not even hungry.

I’m sure you can see how this routine will lead to weight gain. But what do you do when you truly want to engage in this comforting, relaxing habit?

My suggestion, which has worked numerous times for both me and my patients, is this: try a hot drink!

Here’s why: first, because it’s hot and therefore can’t be consumed quickly. At this time of day, our hands, mouth and brain usually want to be occupied. They all want to participate, but our stomachs, not so much!

That’s why this works perfectly! It’s a comfort “food,” but without the caloric investment, and because it’s hot, it takes time to consume, shutting off all the previously mentioned things that want to be occupied.

Hot drinks come in a million forms, from coffees and teas to clear broth and light hot chocolate. I encourage you to try this trick the next time you feel the need to “eat” when you aren’t hungry.

Lisa Weinberg is a registered dietitian/nutritionist in Toronto, in private practice and at the Genesis Professional Group. You can also follow Weinberg at http://twitter.com/lisaweinbergrd If you have any nutrition questions, please send them to The CJN.