Break the Late-Night Snacking Cycle

Question: "I eat little during the day but snack all night long. Can I retrain my appetite?"

Answer: Yes. To break out of your cycle, you must start eating breakfast, even if it's something small, says Milton Stokes, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "By shifting calories to the morning hours, you will ensure that your nighttime cravings don't have as much of a pull."

Start off with a piece of fruit, then gradually add a serving of whole grain and a source of lean protein, until you're consuming a meal consisting of about 350 calories.

Originally published in Fitness magazine, February 2006.