You have the munchies, but you're not hungry; what do you eat?

[norinew]

A lot of the shows I DVR are food-related; cooking shows, eating shows, etc. Invariably, even if I've eaten recently, watching them makes me hungry! Or, at least whets my appetite (appetite and hunger are two different things, imho). So I need something to munch when I have an appetite, but I'm not physically hungry.

Lately, it's been a pickle plate; three dill pickle spears (must be Claussen) and three sweet gherkins; these must be eaten in a pattern: dill, sweet, dill, sweet, dill, sweet. No, I'm not OCD, why would you ask? I'm just a creature of habit! ;)

Occasionally, especially if it's just before bed time and I think I may wake up hungry in the middle of the night, it's a bowl of Frosted Mini Wheats (or the generic equivalent thereof) with some 2% milk.

What's your go-to "I want to eat something but I'm not hungry" food?

[Anaamika]

Veggies. At least I know I am not filling myself up with junk food, and the satisfying crunchcrunchcrunch generally takes care of it. Celery and broccoli are my favorites.

Or a piece of gum.

[Cluricaun]

Nothing. I only eat when I'm hungry, I'm not really one for grazing as it were. My wife eats popcorn sometimes less than 20 minutes after dinner because she likes eating while watching TV, but I just don't understand eating for eatings sake.

[Munch]

A glass of water.

[Ferret Herder]

A carrot or a flavored rice cake (either white cheddar or caramel), or a cup of tea.

[Headrush042]

Single handful of roasted, unsalted peanuts or almonds.

[Justin_Bailey]

You have the munchies, but you're not hungry; what do you eat?

If I have the munchies, aren't I, by definition, hungry?

[norinew]

You have the munchies, but you're not hungry; what do you eat?

If I have the munchies, aren't I, by definition, hungry?
Well, the two things may be identical for you, but for a lot of people, no. Hunger is a physical thing, meaning your body needs fuel, and is asking for it. Appetite, or having the munchies, is more psychological; it's a matter of wanting to eat something that tastes good/is satisfying in texture. Have you ever maybe been recovering from an illness, and your belly is saying "Empty; feed me", while your brain is saying "Ooooh, eating's not a good idea right now"? That would be a case of hunger without appetite. OTOH, if you've ever had a satisfying meal, but then, faced with a particularly tempting dessert, decided maybe you had a little more room in your tummy, that would be a case of having appetite without hunger. Certainly, there's often overlap. But they are not one and the same thing for most people.

[DCnDC]

"Get some sour cream and onion chips with some dip, man, some beef jerky, some peanut butter. Get some Häagen-Dazs ice cream bars, a whole lot, make sure chocolate, gotta have chocolate, man. Some popcorn, red popcorn, graham crackers, graham crackers with marshmallows, the little marshmallows and little chocolate bars and we can make s'mores, man!

Also celery, grape jelly, Cap'n Crunch with the little Crunch berries, pizzas-- we need two BIG pizzas, man, everything on 'em, with water, a whole lotta water, and... Funyuns."

[Shark Sandwich]

A glass of water.

This.

Or raw cauliflower.

Or Blue Diamond Wasabi & Soy Almonds.

[Covered_In_Bees!]

Nothing. I only eat when I'm hungry, I'm not really one for grazing as it were. My wife eats popcorn sometimes less than 20 minutes after dinner because she likes eating while watching TV, but I just don't understand eating for eatings sake.

This.

I eat when I'm hungry and that's it.

And maybe that's why I'm skinny. ;)

[WOOKINPANUB]

Some of you sound like real barrels of laughs.:p

Peanuts in the shell for me. Even more satisfying when I chuck the shells on the floor. (Hey my house, my mess to clean).

[Maastricht]

Heat fat free, non-sterilized milk, just below boiling. Add sweetener. Pour in milk foaming device thingy (http://www.vanpommeren.nl/bodum-latteo-melkschuimer.html), and foam it up. A texture like a nice dessert, but hardly any calories, and good protein and calcium.

[mlees]

Some chedder cheese squares.

[lindsaybluth]

Decaf tea if it's really mild.

If it's moderate, popcorn. Pile on the Penzey's cheese sprinkle! Or fruit.

If it's severe, raw veggies and dip or hummus and w.w. pita or unsalted cashews.

Mindless munching is rough for me; I've improved quite a bit.

[Tangent]

Some mixed roasted nuts, or some jerky and a cheese stick.

[amarinth]

If I have the munchies, aren't I, by definition, hungry?For me? No.
Being hungry and wanting to eat something are entirely unconnected. (Hunger is physical, wanting to eat is mental/emotional) This is why I'm fat.

Unfortunately, usually, I go for cheese. I'm trying to make changes to something less caloric.

[TravisFromOR]

Bagels. Warm toasty bagels with lots of butter. I'll be right back...

[devilsknew]

Popcorn or interesting pickles.

[Superhal]

Pastries or ice cream with sunflower seeds on it.

[moejoe]

Cheezits, or apple and cheese if I'm in a healthy food place. Actually if I'm planning to snack for a long time I find it helps to mix salty and sweet, so I'll have popcorn and raisinettes. Yum.

[Liz Marie]

Tortilla chips and salsa.

[don't ask]

This.

I eat when I'm hungry and that's it.

And maybe that's why I'm skinny. ;)

It is. People who aren't skinny eat for up to four reasons - hunger, habit, boredom and stress relief. One of the tricks to stopping the other 3 is to pay attention to which one is causing you to eat, rather than just giving in to it.

[norinew]

Popcorn or interesting pickles.
May I ask what you mean by "interesting pickles"? I mean, as per my OP, I like pickles. But I stick with really garlicky dill spears, and sweet gherkins. I certainly would be willing to try more 'interesting' ones, though!

[devilsknew]

I like pickled peppers, and Umeboshi, and Kimchee, and bread and butter.... and icebox.
Sauerkraut, Green Tomatoes, Okra, and Beans.

[devilsknew]

Shit. Forgot olives and artichokes, baby onions.... make asalad with a jar of all of the above.... season with sugar, red wine vinegar, pepper, and copious amounts of garlic, add some tri-color screw pasta, atouch of EVOO.

[devilsknew]

Salt or anchovies, or a combination of both in that salad.

[devilsknew]

In any upscale, trendy, American Bar... all of these ingredients could be available. I think I will call it "Bartender's Salad". Every Bar Pickle thrown into the classic American Pasta Salad wit Iti.

[norinew]

Thanks for the clarification, devilsknew!

I remember when I was much, much younger, something that often appeared at parties at my aunt's house was a medley of sweet pickled veggies; the medley contained cauliflower, pearl onions, red/yellow/green bell peppers. I can't remember what else. I do remember that at the time, it was the only way I would eat most of those veggies (the only other way I had ever had them was my mother's 'boil until they are good and dead' method, which sucks).

I can also remember (also at my aunt's house; is there a theme here?), my friends and I gathering up all the change we could, and going down to the convenience store, which had a veritable feast of penny candy! There were usually four or five of us kids, and between us, we might have as much as forty cents! A fortune! One of the things we always bought for our 'party' (read: an excuse to sit on the porch and scarf down junk food) was a great big pickled onion. The onions were huge (or so my memory tells me), and dill pickled, and cost a nickle. We would peel off the layers and share it out that way. Balanced out the Twizzlers, chocolate babies, shoe buttons and Lemon Heads nicely, it did! :)

Hmmmm. I have to go grocery shopping today. Maybe I'll peruse the pickle aisle for stuff more interesting than my standard.

[jackdavinci]

I get a box of those tiny skinny pretzel sticks and eat them one by one, each rolled into a slice of pepperoni. Or I'll dip veggies in salsa.

[Weedy]

Cup of tea.

[SciFiSam]

Fruit or veggies. A satsuma, plum, pear, carrot, celery, tomatoes (with some cheddar cheese).

[Jennmonkye]

Sugar free popscicle...or something like that.

[Freudian Slit]

Well, the two things may be identical for you, but for a lot of people, no. Hunger is a physical thing, meaning your body needs fuel, and is asking for it. Appetite, or having the munchies, is more psychological; it's a matter of wanting to eat something that tastes good/is satisfying in texture. Have you ever maybe been recovering from an illness, and your belly is saying "Empty; feed me", while your brain is saying "Ooooh, eating's not a good idea right now"? That would be a case of hunger without appetite. OTOH, if you've ever had a satisfying meal, but then, faced with a particularly tempting dessert, decided maybe you had a little more room in your tummy, that would be a case of having appetite without hunger. Certainly, there's often overlap. But they are not one and the same thing for most people.

That's bizarre. For me, they're always the same. I physically can't eat if I'm not hungry. I can try but I'll only be able to eat a couple of bites.

I'm starting to realize why my BMI is so low. :)

[norinew]

That's bizarre. For me, they're always the same. I physically can't eat if I'm not hungry. I can try but I'll only be able to eat a couple of bites.

I'm starting to realize why my BMI is so low. :)
Yep, that's probably why! :)

[Carmady]

Chips and salsa or nachos.

[Nunzio Tavulari]

Babies. They're small, so they don't fill me up. Just toss 'em in the microwave.

[norinew]

Babies. They're small, so they don't fill me up. Just toss 'em in the microwave.
And they're tender enough for the bones to go down the garbage disposal! Though, frankly, I prefer braised to microwave. It's slower, but yields a tastier meat!:D