Daily Archives: November 7, 2016

Let’s be real…sometimes life just gets in the way and we can’t even sit down to have dinner until freaking 8 or 9 o’clock.  Or sometimes dinner leaves us unsatisfied and we just need a little somethin’ somethin’ before we head to bed…

But not all snacks are made alike.  Some do more help than hurt, but some can even help you sleep after you eat them!  In short, you want to avoid anything fatty, spicy, super sugary or caffeinated.  Capsaicin, which makes food spicy, can cause indigestion and discomfort, which will naturally affect your sleep.  Foods with a lot of oil or fat takes a while to digest, which can cause acid reflux if you lie down right after eating anything super fatty or deep-fried.  And obviously sugar and caffeine will do nothing for your sleeping schedule.

So here are a few late-night snack ideas that won’t keep you up but will help tame the hunger beast.

String Cheese:  One serving of string cheese contains filling protein and fat, so you feel satisfied after eating it.  One cheese stick is only about 80 calories and contains tryptophan, which also may help make you feel drowsy.

Nonfat Greek Yogurt:  Yogurt also contains tryptophan and protein, so it’s a great snack for before bed time.  Yogurt can also help calm your stomach so you’re less likely to wake up with heartburn or indigestion.

Sliced Apple and Peanut Butter:  Slicing an apple helps convince your brain that you’re eating more than you actually are, and the peanut butter also helps fill you up without feeling too heavy.

Chocolate Pudding Cup:  The creamy pudding is sweet and satisfying and doesn’t contain a ton of fat.

Baby Carrots:  The crunch of these carrots is super satisfying, and at only 4 little calories per carrot, this is great for big late night munchies.

Banana:  Like dairy, bananas are also loaded with tryptophan, as well as satiating fiber.

Other Snacks to Try:

• Cherries
• Almonds
• Cottage Cheese
• Hardboiled Eggs
• Avocado on Toast
• Turkey Slices
• Popcorn
• Pistachios
• Dark Chocolate

Every Monday is a “Reci-bee” post, where I share my favorite recipes, recipe collections, and cooking and baking hints and tips.