Fact checked by Derick Wilder
There I was. The end of the day. My work was done, the kids were in bed, the dishwasher was running, and I had just finished folding the laundry while watching television. An alert on my phone went off: 10 p.m. — bedtime.
If I had an ounce of willpower, I would’ve headed upstairs, brushed my teeth, washed my face, and slid into bed with a book. Instead, I embraced my actual routine: grab a bowl, spoon, the gallon of milk, a box of Corn Pops and a box of Lucky Charms.
“Just one more episode,” I told myself. Six bowls of sugar cereal later, alternating between the Pops and the Charms, I had made it through two more episodes. I could tell you everything that happened in the lives of the characters on the show, but my real-life self felt bloated, disgusted, and less ready for a good night’s sleep than for hibernation.
Why do I do this to myself?
“There’s the ‘I’ve done the hard things, and now I need comfort,’” says Linda Brown Arrandt, a massage therapist and certified holistic health coach in Chicago.
Right. I earned this quiet time to treat myself to a late-night snack.
When I was a kid, my parents allowed my brothers and me one bowl of sugary cereal a day. That made Froot Loops and Cocoa Puffs feel extra special. As an adult, they’re less special because I can have them whenever I want. This is a lesson I’m trying to teach my two young boys: When you have limits, special treats are actually special. But when you can do whatever you want, whenever you want, the magic disappears.
If I really need to squeeze in another episode or two and want a snack — even when I’m not truly hungry — I could opt for an apple with peanut butter. Or even some Nutella. But I don’t.
“There’s a fine line between willpower and what’s driving your sugar craving,” Arrandt says. “Sugar begets more sugar. Once you eat it, the pleasure centers open, and you want more.”
That momentary pleasure may not be worth the trade-off. Excess sugar can lead to inflammation and blood sugar issues. My dad has type 2 diabetes, so that’s a risk I flirt with every time I overindulge. And, of course, as we age, our bodies don’t process the bad stuff as well as they used to. Too much sugar can accelerate aging, disrupt hormones, damage organs, and even affect memory and learning. All things in moderation, as the saying goes.
Arrandt suggests building willpower and healthier habits. “Set a timer for 15 or 30 minutes to do something else, and the craving may go away,” she says. “If you’re actually hungry, go get that apple or a peach.”
She also recommends grain-free cereals, sweetened with honey or maple syrup. But I know myself — that won’t scratch the itch. I don’t want a substitute. I want the craving gone altogether. And maybe the trick is embracing a little pride.
When the work and chores are done, I need to force myself to bed. Bask in the magnificence of my willpower. Get a good night’s sleep. Wake up refreshed, knowing that I’m on the right path to a long, healthy life.
But let’s be honest: When I’m lying on my deathbed at age 113, my last words won’t be, “I’ve had a good life” or even “I love you, sons.” No, they’ll be, “Get me a mixing bowl of Lucky Charms. I earned it.”
Originally published in the Fall 2025/Winter 2026 print issue.
David Himmel is a Peter Lisagor Award winner and the former editor-in-chief of Chicago Health. He lives in Old Irving Park.
