The minute I get home from work, I'm too hungry to think about eating right. Some tips?

Kim Bensen, who wrote about losing 200 pounds through Weight Watchers in her book finally thin!, lives by the scout motto: Be prepared.

Here are her suggestions for following through with those best-laid diet plans:

* When you come home from the grocery store, weigh and measure bulk-packaged food, and package them individually.

* Before freezing poultry, wash and add marinades; before freezing meats, divide them into portions and add marinades, rubs or seasonings.

* Stop at a local restaurant or grocery salad bar for a quick and easy salad or to buy some cut-up veggies for a stir-fry. Steam broccoli florets or throw a mixture of peppers, mushrooms and onions into a large frying pan with nonfat cooking spray and light teriyaki sauce.

* Regularly go through your cupboards, fridge and pantry and make sure you're well-stocked with grocery staples to help you stick to your diet.

* Pitch all "red-light foods" on your shelves - foods you find way too hard to resist.

* Don't let yourself run out of fresh produce that you need every day. But just in case, keep some canned or frozen ones on hand.

* Keep a nonperishable snack in your glove compartment, office desk or purse for emergencies. Unexpected delays can ignite your hunger for a high-fat, sugary treat.

* Write out a detailed shopping list as you plan your meals. It will ultimately save you time, money and temptation at the grocery.

Here's a fragrant dessert from Kim Bensen's book finally thin!

Apple Cake

Serves 18

Nonfat cooking spray

1 1/2 cups sugar substitute

6 cups apples, peeled, cored and cubed

4 ounces egg substitute

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/3 cup raisins, packed

* Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-by-13 pan with nonfat cooking spray.

* Pour the sugar substitute over the apples and let stand for 10 minutes.

* Mix in the egg substitute and applesauce.

* Add in the flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and raisins.

* Pour batter into prepared pan.

* Bake for 50 minutes.

Nutritional information per serving: 130 cal., 1 g fat (0 sat.), 0 chol., 29 g carb., 3 g pro., 2 g fiber, 283 mg sodium

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