It’s past 10 PM, almost bedtime, and your stomach starts growling. Possibly you’ve had a hectic day or unable to sleep as you’re having late night cravings to eat something. The reason can be anything. Like everything else in life, in the end, it’s all about balance. It’s all about making healthy, snacking choices. Snacking at night is not as unhealthy as everyone assumes. Some healthy snacks even hold compounds that might help you fall asleep quickly. There are many healthy snack recipes that you could easily follow to stop late night cravings!
Know this list of easy healthy snack recipes to prepare for late night cravings. Don’t worry! You won’t need the old snacks as the new ones taste just as tasty, plus these healthy snacks will make your mornings much better. There are some general rules for healthy late-night snacking. Keep these in mind whenever you have late night cravings post-dinner:
- It contains less than 400 calories: You can help prevent filling your body with the kind of excess calories, which might immediately store fat.
- Should be fruits or vegetables: You’ll soon be sleeping, you should avoid snacks which mostly contain carbohydrates or excess fats. You should know that your body might not get enough time to suitably break down these items.
- Is low in sugar level: The energy that sugar gives might make you lose your sleep.
How to Stop Late Night Cravings?
If you’re looking for homemade snacks, check out these quick snack recipes. All these easy healthy snacks include sleep-promoting ingredients.
1. A Bowl of Berries
When you’re late night craving for something sweet yet healthy, you can’t beat a bowl of berries. It has multiple benefits than you can imagine, it is not only packed with fiber but also consists of magnesium, which eases nerves and muscles to make you sleep better.
Berries 2. Banana with Almond Butter
One banana served in a tablespoonful of almond butter is 165-calories. Bananas are one of the fruits associated with being rich in serotonin, and some of which your body transforms into melatonin.
On the bright side, almonds and almond butter produce melatonin too. It also consists of healthy fats and vitamin E. Having a banana soaked in almond butter will help boost your body’s melatonin levels to get a night of better sleep.
Banana with Almond Butter3. Peanut Butter Sandwich
Some foods, like peanut butter, contain an amino acid termed tryptophan, which gets reformed to melatonin to boost sleep. Carbohydrates present in the bread and peanut butter serve to form tryptophan and further access to the brain to get you a good night’s sleep. Plus, it is not only delicious but also fills you up.
Peanut Butter Sandwich 4. Yogurt with Fruit
Yogurt carries many minerals, such as calcium, fiber, protein, and carbohydrates. You can have plain yogurt and with some berries, fruits, and even honey, which is a good source of antioxidant. Studies propose that consuming food rich in casein protein at night may help you lessen hunger the next morning.
Yogurt with Fruit A (170-gram) container of plain non-fat yogurt contains 94 calories. You can mix in a cup (74 grams) of berries and which will add 42 calories approximately.
5. Flavoured Popcorn
Popcorn is not only a great late-night snack but also a low-calorie snack. You can have a massive bowl of popcorn without worrying about your calorie intake. Four cups of air-popped popcorn have less than 100 calories and consist of nearly 4 grams of fiber to fill you up.
Flavoured PopcornYou can mix it with spices, garlic powder, and a pinch of sugar for an extra flavour that contributes almost zero calories. Plus, it serves excellent evening snacks for kids too!
6. Salsa with some pita chips
The salsas which we eat in the restaurant may taste great, but they are not as healthy as homemade salsa. You can take a break from the typical tomato salsa and instead add ingredients like black bean and corn for a crowd. It’s a healthy late-night snack plus tastes good too. You can add vegetables, plum tomatoes, onion, and lime as well. You can have this with Pita chips as per your preference, plus it’s a good mixture.
Salsa with some pita chips7. Fresh Veggies with Dip
If you’re looking for something crunchy and healthy, raw veggies are a perfect choice. Small slices of carrots, broccoli florets, cucumber, peppers, and grape tomatoes are a great combination to meet your late-night cravings. You can add some flavor and get minerals like calcium with a dip made of low-fat cheese or Greek yogurt.
Fresh Veggies with Dip 8. Oatmeal and Milk
A cold calming bowl of oatmeal can never go wrong when it comes to a sleepless night. It is a well-known fact that grain is an excellent root of loading fiber, which includes beta-glucan, which helps you keep your cholesterol levels in control. You can immediately prepare oatmeal using milk, one tablespoonful honey, and any fruit of your choice.
Oatmeal and Milk9. Cheese and Crackers
If you’re craving for something savory at night, cheese and crackers are the best snacks to have. But if you’re watching your weight, make sure to consume cheese in the right proportion as it is high in calories. You can eat this with whole-grain crackers, which include filling fiber.
Cheese and Crackers 10. Chicken Sandwich
You can make a chicken sandwich with a few chicken slices, whole-grain bread and add a slice of tomato or onion, and a little mayo or mustard according to your preference. A chicken sandwich consists of protein and complex carbohydrates, which will make you full. Make sure you give yourself time to digest that sandwich when finished eating.
Chicken Sandwich At the end of the day
If you have midnight food cravings, eating a bite under 200 calories won’t harm. Plus, as mentioned before, many of these foods carry sleep-supportive composites, which include minerals like tryptophan, serotonin, melatonin, magnesium, and calcium.
It is essential to be aware of a few healthy snack recipes. So you will be less influenced to go to the supermarket or hit the nearest fast-food restaurant.
Also Read: Tips To Avoid Junk Food Cravings
