You are moments from bedtime and your stomach starts to growl. Is it the worst factor in the world to indulge in a midnight snack? What in case you go out of your way to choose a healthy midnight snack?
Healthy midnight snacks won’t automatically ruin your effort to maintain a healthy diet, says vitamins expert Keri Gans. In case you keep low-fat, lower-calorie foods on hand, you can curb your cravings with healthy midnight snacks, in preference to than junk food, and avoid spoiling your weight-loss plans.
The issue comes when you eat late-night snacks that improve your total calorie intake beyond what you really need for the day. “You need to watch your calories because, actually, you do not want the food” late at night if you’ve eaten well during the day, says Gans, a nutrition consultant in (United State) New York City and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
Ways to Avoid Midnight Snacks
The great way to avoid late-night snacking is to eat a some of small meals throughout the day. If you don’t, you may be susceptible to a “domino effect,” Gans says. “You didn’t eat enough during the day, and at night you can’t get happy.”
Ideas for Healthy Midnight Snacks
So what happens if you consume a healthy dinner but are still hungry right before bedtime? There are healthful midnight snacks that you can have without breaking the calorie bank.
Gans recommends sugar-free ice pops, sugar-free Jell-O, or a single 100-calorie snack pack as a great choice for a healthy midnight snack. “This is where it’s beneficial to have some low-fat, low-sugar snack options, Don’t keep items in the house that tempt you, like ice cream and cookies.”
Different thoughts for healthy midnight snacks include a piece of fruit, a bowl of berries, some popcorn, low-fat yogurt, crackers with low-fat cheese, or cereal and skim milk. Be sure to snack in small portions and eat snacks with both proteins and carbohydrates — apple slices with peanut butter, for example — to help your body stay satisfied.