Kat said:

I have noticed that I only eat more than I should when
I am at work.  I am a computer programmer/systems analyst, and I spend most
of my day concentrating really hard.  Does anyone know of a proven link
between
demanding mental work
and increased consumption of carbohydrates?  Protein doesn't give me what I
need, only carbs seem to help the mental load.  I also remember reading
somewhere that 60% of all energy consumption is in the brain, but I don't
have a reference for it.

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I was interested to read this, because I too work in software, as an
interface designer and technical writer, and have the same extreme,
prolonged, continuous mental demands you describe. But I've had the opposite
experience: before I started eating paleo, I ate normal amounts during the
workday and a lot of carbs at night. Since I've been paleo I don't feel the
need for the large amount of carbs I used to eat at night at ANY time, but I
did find that when I cut back on fruit I start snacking at night again. Are
you eating enough fruit during the day? I eat probably half a cup of berries
in the morning, an orange or mixed fruit during the day, and some more
berries after dinner. Vegetables don't seem to give me what I need
carb-wise, but the fruit does for some reason. And fruit doesn't cause me to
put on weight.