How many times you feel hungry at night, but think twice before eating something because you don’t want to gain weight? If you experience that feeling too many times, then you probably need to eat some healthy snacks that are listed below. They are tasty and will stop you feeling hungry. More importantly, they offer nutritional benefits that can help you get better sleep without unnecessary calories. So, let’s check them out!
1. Banana
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Of all fruit types, banana is considered a better option for healthy snacks, especially for your meals at night. Banana is loaded with magnesium and potassium, two types of minerals that can relax your nerve as well as enhance a good night’s sleep.
Also, banana can be easily combined with other tasty snacks to create a healthier effect. Banana with toast, for instance, forms complex carbohydrates that produce melatonin to induce sleep. Another alternative, banana and oatmeal, are rich in fiber and antioxidants.
2. Berries
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When you feel hungry at night, a bowl of berries should be enough for you. Blueberries, raspberries, and Goji berries are some types of berries that you can take. All of them contain fiber and various minerals. They are also rich in magnesium which is known for having the ability to relax muscles and nerves before sleep.
There are lots of options to savor berries as healthy snacks. You can eat them or mix them in a bowl with milk. Frozen berries are equally good, too.
3. Cereal and Milk
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Cereal and milk is not just a common food combination for breakfast. They can also serve as healthy snacks at nighttime. Cereals contain high-glycemic carbohydrates that can help you drift into a more decent sleep. Moreover, milk—especially skim milk—provides high calcium which participates in the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates your daily sleep pattern.
Corn-based cereals are more recommended because of its low calories. For variation, you can replace cereal with oatmeal porridge; both of them have similar calories and nutritional benefits, more or less.
4. Cheese and Crackers
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Cheese and crackers are popular healthy snacks that you can eat almost any time of a day, including at nighttime. However, when you choose them as late-night meals, they are best to serve in low amount since cheese has relatively high calories.
If you are on a diet, Brie or cottage cheese is some recommended choices. For the crackers, you should choose the kinds that are made of whole grain.
5. Chocolate Pudding
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Pudding is not just perfect for desserts but can also be consumed as healthy late night snacks. A cup of chocolate pudding, as a case in point, contains plenty of fiber and protein that will give you enough nutrition before sleep. It is also low in sugar, fat, and carbohydrate. For that reason, you can savor the sweet taste of chocolate pudding at night without having to worry about your weight.
6. Fresh Fruits
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Besides banana which has been mentioned earlier, some other fruits serve as healthy snacks that can be eaten raw and fresh. These include kiwis, strawberries, apple, peach, pear.
Kiwi and strawberries contain serotonin which creates a calming effect for better sleep. Meanwhile, pome fruits like apple, pear, and peach provide you with fiber and healthy fat that will improve the work of your digestion system, from night until morning.
7. Fresh Veggies and Dip
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Vegetables always provide healthy and nutritional benefits for you, whether you put them into meals or eat them raw. Besides, some certain types of veggies are good options for healthy snacks. These include celery, baby carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, and zucchini.
To turn vegetables into more delicious snacks, you can serve them with several tips of dip—cheese, yogurt, salsa, whichever you prefer. They will make a healthy and tasty treat before you go to sleep.
8. Nuts, Seeds, and Legume
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Just like fruits, the family of nuts, seeds, and legume spoil you with lots of nutritional benefits, including protein, fiber, minerals, and vitamins. For these reasons, all of them are included on the list of healthy foods to eat at night.
This applies to almost all of their types, but most recommended types are almonds and pistachios for nuts, edamame for legume, as well as chia, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds.
9. Yogurt
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Besides milk, yogurt is another dairy product that contains high calcium. Therefore, this tasty and creamy thick liquid can be consumed safely at night. It can help you get better sleep, especially if you choose plain or low-fat yogurt. For variation, you can top yogurt with frozen fruits or berries.
That’s all about some recommended healthy snacks that you can eat at night without any trouble. With plenty of snack choices above, one problem involving healthy meals is solved. You can choose one (or more) snacks from the list whenever you feel hungry or need more meals at night.