No drastic measures necessary!
Reviewed by Dietitian Karen Ansel, M.S., RDN
So you ate an entire pint of ice cream while binge-watching Netflix. Or maybe you ate more dessert than felt comfortable at a family gathering. We’ve all been there. But then the inevitable happens. You wake up the next morning feeling not so great and maybe a little anxious and guilty. And you’re wondering what to do next.
While you may have the overwhelming urge to restrict calories, cut out carbs or resort to an expensive cleanse, dietitians recommend you let it go and get back into your regular routine. There is no need to take any extreme measures.
The First Thing You Should Do
You might think the best way to recover from a sugar-filled night is to double down on rigid food rules. But with that approach, you can really get caught in a vicious cycle. Instead, let it go and get back to your regularly scheduled programming!
Resist the urge to “undo” the sugar with more restriction, says Marissa Beck, M.S., RDN, founder of Revv Health. “Get back into a routine with ample self-care, tune into hunger and fullness cues, and aim for regular meals and snacks that include all macronutrients,” she says. If you focus on balance and nourishing your body, you can get on with the show in a way that supports your physical and mental health.
What’s the first step you should take? Start your day with a nourishing protein- and fiber-rich breakfast to set the tone. While you might think skipping breakfast is a good way to make up for the sugar you ate the night before, the opposite is true. Eating a nutrient-dense breakfast that’s rich in protein and fiber supports balanced blood sugar and will keep you feeling energized and ready to take on the day. It can also prevent cravings and overeating later in the day so you don’t repeat the same cycle.
Then, aim to eat balanced meals and snacks for the rest of the day. Skipping meals in an attempt to compensate for overeating can backfire. When you deprive your body of the nutrition it needs, it may respond by ramping up hunger hormones, which may lead to eating more later in the day.
To stay consistent, Beck suggests a midmorning snack of Greek yogurt with berries, nuts and chia seeds. Lunch could be a fiber-filled grain bowl like this 10-minute Buffalo Chicken Grain Bowl. If you’re hungry between lunch and dinner, have an afternoon snack like our satisfying Chickpea Snack Salad. Dinner could be our Creamy Spinach-Artichoke Salmon, a side of Air-Fryer Baby Potatoes and a fresh salad.
Why Getting Back to Your Routine Is Key
No diets, cleanses or restricting calories here! Restriction leads to bingeing, and bingeing leads to restricting. Give yourself some grace, eat a balanced meal and put a stop to the binge-restrict cycle before it starts.
“I often tie this back into the broader picture of developing a healthy relationship with food,” says Alexis Silver, M.P.H., RDN, a dietitian in Toronto. “At some points in your life, you’re going to eat more sugar, sodium or fat. But your overall habits and lifestyle choices are what really determine your health. We’re all human!”
Related: When You’re Craving a Food, Maybe You Need to Just Eat It
Other Tips & Strategies
In addition to nourishing your body and eating regular meals and snacks, there are other things you can do to alleviate any unpleasant physical or emotional symptoms. These strategies can help you get back on track and move on.
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Go for a Walk. “It will help lower your blood sugar and clear your head,” says Lisa Andrews, M.Ed., RD, LD, a dietitian and owner of Sound Bites Nutrition. “One night of overindulgence won’t destroy your health, but moving your body may improve your mood if you feel crappy after too much sugar.”
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Stay Hydrated. While there’s nothing magical about drinking water, and it doesn’t negate sugar, it is important for digestion and overall health. You might be feeling bloated or sluggish. “Oftentimes this sluggish feeling is due to dehydration and less an effect of the sugar consumption,” says Alyssa Smolen, M.S., RDN, CDN, a New Jersey-based dietitian.
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Be Kind to Yourself and Get Curious. Instead of beating yourself up, ask questions. This will help you learn from your experience. What was going on that caused you to eat that much sugar? Were you having a rough day? Were you bored? Was the ice cream just tasting too good? Answering these questions creates self-awareness and prepares you to make a different choice the next time you’re in a similar situation.
The Bottom Line
Eating too much sugar happens to all of us. But there’s no need to panic or punish yourself the next day. Skip the restrictive diets and cleanses. Instead, focus on getting back to your regular routine with balanced meals, staying hydrated and moving your body. Acknowledge the moment with kindness, reflect on what happened and let it go. Your health is determined by your overall habits, not one sugary night.
