I have a confession: I am a midnight snacker. OK well it's more like a 10 p.m. snacker, but I'm snacking way later than I should. On foods I have no business eating. But I'm hungry! And I can't be the only one. So, what's a girl to do when hunger pangs hit but you've vowed not to eat after 7 p.m.? Let's take a look at what you can do when it comes to late-night snacking.
What To Do When The Munchies Strike Late At Night
Instant Oatmeal With Berries Or Nuts
Oatmeal might not be the first thing that comes to your mind when you get the munchies, but it is delicious and comforting in its own right, especially on a chilly fall or winter evening. Look for a brand of instant oatmeal that isn't loaded with sugar or preservatives.
The 8 Best Instant Oatmeals in 2022
A cup of cooked oatmeal is good for late-night munchies because it works on your stomach in multiple ways to prevent hunger:
- It puts tension on the stomach wall, forcing it outwards and giving you the sensation that you’re full.
- It normalizes your hunger signals because of the high volume of fiber it contains.
- It sits in your stomach for a long time before passing on, so you remain fuller for longer.
Additionally, a cup of cooked oatmeal only has 158 calories and 3.2 grams of fat. And you can up the nutritional value by adding chopped walnuts or almonds or berries such as raspberries, blueberries or strawberries--whatever's in season will be just delish. Try a drizzle of natural honey or agave for sweetness, too.
Lowfat Yogurt With Granola
Lately, my favorite go-to for a tasty, filling late night snack has been about 1/2 cup of lowfat vanilla yogurt with 1/4 cup of flavorful, gluten-free granola (honestly, I taste no difference between regular granola and gluten-free). I have a variety of granolas I keep on hand that I'll add to my yogurt; right now I'm enjoying summer berries and honey almond. This delicious combo fills me up and keeps me satisfied until bedtime!
  Nature's Path Gluten-Free Granola, Summer Berries, amazon.com |
  Nature's Path Gluten-Free Granola, Honey Almond, amazon.com |
Cheese & Crackers
As you can see, I try to keep my late-night cravings as nutritious as possible. And thankfully cheese and crackers fits the bill--thank you, Baby Jesus! A serving size of whole wheat crackers (a filling carb) paired with an ounce of hard or semi-hard cheese (like cheddar or swiss) and served alongside sweet seedless grapes or sliced cherry tomatoes has about 325 calories, 27.5 grams of carbs and 10 grams of fat, give or take. Fun fact: cheese is a simple source of Tryptophan, which is an amino acid that aids in the synthesis of melatonin, which, of course, helps you zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
A Smoothie
If you are craving something sweet, you cannot go wrong with this tasty Chocolate & Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie. Here's the facts on this delicious and nutritious treat:
This is my go-to recipe for a delicious Chocolate & Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie. Feel free to substitute the peanut butter for a different nut butter, and / or swap out the almond milk for soy or coconut milk. You can even replace the cacao powder for regular cocoa powder, if you'd like.
As you can see, I try to keep my late-night cravings as nutritious as possible. And thankfully cheese and crackers fits the bill--thank you, Baby Jesus! A serving size of whole wheat crackers (a filling carb) paired with an ounce of hard or semi-hard cheese (like cheddar or swiss) and served alongside sweet seedless grapes or sliced cherry tomatoes has about 325 calories, 27.5 grams of carbs and 10 grams of fat, give or take. Fun fact: cheese is a simple source of Tryptophan, which is an amino acid that aids in the synthesis of melatonin, which, of course, helps you zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
A Smoothie
If you are craving something sweet, you cannot go wrong with this tasty Chocolate & Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie. Here's the facts on this delicious and nutritious treat:
- Peanut Butter: 2 tablespoons of peanut butter contains 7.02 gs of protein, 57 mgs of magnesium and 4.21 mgs of niacin per serving.
- Banana: A wonderful source of potassium, Vitamin B6, fiber and protein.
- Cacao Powder: Provides 25% DV (Daily Value) magnesium, 10% DV iron, 19% DV fiber and 195mgs antioxidants (flavanols) per serving.
- Almond Milk: This nutritional powerhouse packs 4% DV magnesium, 37% DV calcium and over 100% DV Vitamin E into a single 40 calorie cup of milk!
This is my go-to recipe for a delicious Chocolate & Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie. Feel free to substitute the peanut butter for a different nut butter, and / or swap out the almond milk for soy or coconut milk. You can even replace the cacao powder for regular cocoa powder, if you'd like.
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