Do you get the late night munchies? Do you get hungry late at night after dinner or even after you’ve gone to bed? Sometimes you work or stay out late and need to eat so the sound of your stomach growling doesn’t keep you awake. Most people crave high calorie sugary or greasy foods in the midnight hours, which is not the best option for several reasons.
For one, the calories you consume that late at night will not go towards giving you energy because you are going to sleep. Also, eating food heavy in sugar, salt, and fat can leave you feeling bloated and uncomfortable, which does not make for a good night’s sleep. Luckily, there are other healthy options when you need a late night snack.
Breakfast For After Dinner
Most of us already love breakfast for dinner so why wouldn’t breakfast food post-dinner be wonderful? An omelet is usually a good choice, but if you order one at a diner, they can be loaded with oily cheese and unhealthy meat that is full of sodium and saturated fat.
The portions are also astronomical. Next time you get an omelet craving, you can make your own healthy version with low fat cheese and tons of veggies. You can make it even healthier by using egg whites, or go half and half. This recipe is quick, easy, and delicious.
The Pizza Alternative
Pizza is usually a great late night snack because we have leftovers in the fridge from dinner, and some people even prefer eating it cold. As much as we like to think pizza is healthy because the tomatoes in the sauce are technically vegetables, there is a healthier way to eat pizza as a late night snack.
These English muffin pizzas are healthy and easy to make. You can use multi-grain English muffins like the recipe calls for, or if you can find whole wheat English muffins, that’s even better. Add some low fat cheese and veggies for toppings, and you have one healthy late night snack
Ice Cream Can be Healthy
A sweet treat tastes so good at night after you’ve put on your pajamas and are ready to watch some late night TV. A big bowl of Rocky Road right before bed is not the healthiest choice. Believe it or not, there is a healthy alternative to ice cream, and it doesn’t mean buying the low fat, no sugar kind. You can make “ice cream” out of frozen bananas and add in ingredients like cocoa powder, peanut butter, and honey to make it delicious. Check out this recipe for five different ways to make banana “ice cream.”
With these healthy alternatives to the typical late night snack, you will feel better about having a midnight nosh every once in awhile. Just remember to keep the portion size small and maybe schedule a workout for the next morning. Happy snacking!
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