While it may be fine to snack on something right before bed, (because nobody really stops eating after 6 pm) it doesn’t give you the freedom to eat anything you want.
If you’re reaching for a peanut butter sandwich or a grilled cheese, you may want to rethink your choices. Heavy, spicy, and protein filled foods will only leave you feeling too full to have a good nights’ rest.
However, there are certain snacks that have sleep-inducing nutrients such as melatonin, carbohydrates, tryptophan, and protein. Ensure a good nights’ rest by grabbing these healthy options before bed.
Pro Tip: Pre-make as many of these snacks as you can so you can just reach for it quickly once your cravings set in.
Strawberry-Banana Ice cream
If ice cream is just one late-night snack you refuse to give up, this alternative is perfect for you. With a cup of ice cream packing almost 200 calories, it’s a definite no-no to eat this before bed. Mashed frozen bananas will give you an ice cream like consistency without the added calories, fat, and sugars. The recipe is super simple in that once you freeze your bananas, simply blend the strawberries and bananas together in a food processor until you get the consistency you desire, then voila! One scoop of vegan ice cream, or two!
Pistachios
Nuts usually get a bad rap for being bad especially when trying to lose weight, but seeing that taking the shells off pistachios can be quite the challenge, it actually makes for the perfect night time snack because the slower you eat, the less you eat. Nuts offer a variety of nutrients such as fiber, biotin, vitamin B6, and folate. Plus, unlike regular nuts, you’re able to eat more pistachios per ounce than any other nut. You can also pair your pistachios with fruits such as berries. Almonds are also a great nut if consumed moderately (quarter-cup)
Raspberry Greek Yogurt Popsicles
We all get that tingly feeling inside when we hear the ice cream truck coming down our street. But if you’re able to purchase your popsicles in the store or from the truck, it’s most likely filled with a ton of processed sugar. For a great after-dinner snack, mash a few raspberries with 2% plain Greek yogurt, place the mixture in a popsicle mold, and place in the freezer until fully frozen.
Kale Chips
Repeat after me: No more barbeque lays, no more hot Cheetos. Now say it until you mean it. If you need your late-night salty crunch fix, kale chips are a great alternative without the extra calories and fat. They also provide vitamins K, A, and C and have cancer-fighting phytochemicals such as carotenoids, which are all nutrients not found in regular potato chips. Prepping time for kale chips is minimal and they taste best when freshly baked leaving you with a great bedtime snack consisting of only 63 calories.
Eggs
Are you the kind of person who doesn’t mind going to IHOP after breakfast hours? We all know that eggs are a great source of protein, so before you head to bed, whip up some scrambled eggs and wheat toast for your snack. The protein will help to keep hunger away for longer to ensure a peaceful night of sleep.
Now your sweet dreams are just one bite away.
Photo Credits: Shutterstock
