First determine why you are eating. The answer may be the cause of your cravings. Identify your cause and treat the trigger. Here are five common types of eaters: Dolly Parton eater: Did you skip breakfast, eat a small lunch on the go and enjoy a healthy dinner? Balance out the calories throughout the day to avoid “top heavy” nights. Feed your body during the day rather then eating too much right before bed. Crave slave: Maybe you ate enough, but now your cravings are out of control. This often means your meals and snacks are imbalanced. Add fresh foods, less processed snacks and plan healthier choices. With a better balance of nutrients throughout the day, you’ll be another step ahead. Self-soother: Most people are emotional eaters on some level, but your stress triggers snacking at night. Now, how do you stop that unhealthy behavior? Relax. Practice some meditative breathing and stretch your muscles. Pray. Make a list of relaxing activities and try those before opening the fridge. Idle hands: If a snack is your cure for boredom, try picking up your knitting, hit the gym or simply call a friend. Whatever you do, don’t use the computer or the TV for boredom relief. Too much technology leads to too many snacks. These are some of the most common reasons for late-night snacking. Identify your weakness, know triggers and create an action plan. If at first you don’t succeed, try again. With a little effort, you could finally fit back into your best self.