Everyone has the night munchies every once in a while.
But whether you are feeling guilty for eating or just go to bed hungry instead - you are doing yourself an injustice. Why?
We all know that late-eating is quite bad for our diet and we won’t burn off the calories that we eat before bed because our metabolic rate slows down while sleeping.
That’s why our breakfast and lunch should be the biggest meals throughout the day because we are most active then and can more easily burn off those calories that go into our body.
The problem is that we often reach for snacks that are unhealthy and hard to digest.
Here are a few things you should avoid before you go to sleep:
We’ve created this list of 10 healthy late night snacks that will have you going to bed with a feeling of fullness in your belly. These snacks are tasty and won’t cause those unwanted extra pounds.
Got any more? Feel free to share in the comments below.
Yogurt
Yogurt, especially Greek yogurt is a great late night snack that works to promote sleep, but also has many other health benefits. It’s packed with important nutrients, such as calcium, B-12, and potassium.
In addition, it is also full of probiotics; which are ‘good bacteria’ that boost digestive health.
Yogurt may also aid the immune system, may protect against osteoporosis and benefit heart health.
If you don’t like plain Greek yogurt, you can add flavor with chopped nuts, frozen berries, chia seeds or even honey.
And if you have a sweet tooth, here is a great option for you:
Image Source: Jessica Gavin
Fresh Fruits
Here are a few fruits that are great for specific aspects of your health:
- Kiwi is rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, minerals and contains around 93 calories. It may help in digestion, lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and may help with weight loss.
- Tart cherries or tart cherry juice is very rich in various beneficial nutrients and may increase your strength, promote brain health, and boost your immune system.
- Frozen blueberries are rich in fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. They are low in calories and still very tasty. Just some of the health benefits of blueberries are: they protect cholesterol levels in the blood, lower blood pressure, prevent heart disease, improve memory and help to maintain your brain function.
Or if you like to combine your fruit with other ingredients try avocado on Crispbread, or even peaches with non-fat cottage cheese.
Frozen Fruit
Yes, frozen fruit can be a treat, too!
Freezing certain fruits often changes its taste; turning it into a sweeter, sometimes more sour, version of itself. Frozen raspberries are one such treat that you will want to have one after the other every night.
Honey and Milk
Honey and milk is a good choice if you are having trouble falling asleep.
It’s a great source of vitamins, fibers, proteins, calcium, and antioxidants and also contains melatonin (which helps regulate sleep cycles).
Just some of the many health benefits of milk are bone health, prevents weight gain, lowers risk of obesity, and can prevent osteoporosis.
It is also versatile, so if you don’t like to drink plain milk, you can add it to oatmeal, soup, or use it to make smoothies.
Trail-mix
The best thing about trail mix is that it can be customized according to flavors you like. The options are endless.
Add nuts, dried fruit, or even a little bit of dark chocolate, and you have a perfectly healthy late night snack.
Keep in mind that some dried fruit contains a lot of calories. So be careful with the portions.
Nuts are also high in fat but packed with nutrients that are beneficial for our health, and can help you lose weight. They can also lower cholesterol in the blood, help to reduce inflammation, and even reduce the risk of stroke or heart attack.
Smoothie
Smoothies make the perfect late night snack because they literally take seconds to make once you have all of your ingredients together.
The combinations of fruits, nuts, seeds milk (or milk substitutes), and other additions are endless.
Popcorn
Air-popped popcorn without butter, salt, sugar, and other unhealthy and unnecessary additives can be a great late night snack.
It’s packed with antioxidants, fiber and has many health benefits, including regulation of blood sugar, and protection against osteoporosis and premature aging.
It can also help you lose those unwanted extra pounds.
One cup of popcorn contains 30 calories and is 95% fat-free, but due to its fiber content will make you feel full.
Replace butter with lemon powder, or regular salt with rosemary to flavor it and you can enjoy your snack, guilt-free.
Hard-boiled eggs
Hard-boiled eggs are packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals, and, on average, only have 80 calories; Making this superfood a great option for a late night snack.
Like many of the foods on our list, it is also versatile, so you have endless options to pair them with. You can make an egg salad adding more healthy ingredients like avocado, a few crisp radishes, and Greek yogurt.
Image Source: Fannetastic Food
Dark Chocolate
For heavier cravings for sweets, a little bit of dark chocolate will go a long way to get you through the night. Dark chocolate is one of one of the best sources of antioxidants.
So, replace those unhealthy and sugary junk with this nutritious powerhouse.
Keep in mind that you want to choose dark chocolate that has at least 70% cocoa. Also remember that dark chocolate also contains sugar, but in very small amounts.
Vegetable Chips
Image Source: Hippeas
We all know store-bought chips are delicious and one of the most famous snack options in the world. But, we also know that it is also one of the unhealthier options, as well.
Fancy making your own chips at home? Check out our blog on Delicious Chips Recipes.
Check out these other alternatives:
Fancy making your own chips at home? Check out our blog on Delicious Chips Recipes.
The only thing you should keep in mind is to slice your ingredients very thin, that’s how your chips will be crunchy and delicious. By making your homemade chips, you know what actually goes into your snack and how much of each ingredient is in it, also you will save money. Less oil, salt and other unhealthy additives will make a huge difference, believe me.
If you have those late night cravings that just won’t go away, don’t feel guilty about it. Instead, choose alternatives that pair taste with nutrition; so you still get to eat more of what you love, with as little of the bad stuff as possible.
As long as they have the right ingredients and are just a bit healthier than well-known alternatives, you will be making the right choice for yourself.
Want to see what else we're up to?
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and LinkedIn for snack updates.