Healthy Ways to Satisfy Late Night Cravings
We all know how strong late night cravings can be. That growling in your stomach that just won’t go away when you are trying to sleep is hard to ignore. While eating late at night isn’t great for your body, there are ways to satisfy those late night cravings with light and nutritious foods. In order to keep a person full, it is important to eat snacks with protein, healthy fats, and fiber. These foods will prevent a person from feeling heavy and bloated but simultaneously will keep a person full and refreshed. In addition, most of these foods help with boosting feelings of sleepiness. Here are 8 healthy snack options that will kill those late night cravings.
Apple with Peanut Butter
As the old saying goes, and apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples are packed with fiber and vitamin C. Because of this, one apple will easily fill a person up in a healthy way. Peanut butter is a great source of healthy fats and protein, so the combination of apple and peanut butter makes for a nutritional powerhouse. Overall, this snack is satisfying, tasty, and leaves a person feeling guilt free.
Dark Chocolate
Chocolate is one of the best foods to cure a sweet tooth late night craving. Dark chocolate may seem like an extremely rich late night snack, but it has serious health benefits. One bar of dark chocolate is filled with fiber, iron, and potassium. It also provides healthy fats and tons of antioxidants. A few squares of some dark chocolate are sure to squash those late night cravings instantly.
Banana with Almond Butter
Not only is banana with almond butter delicious, but it has been show to help induce sleepiness. Bananas increase melatonin blood levels significantly following ingestion. Bananas are also rich in serotonin, which some of is converted into melatonin. In addition, almond butter contains vitamin E, healthy fats, and magnesium. Banana with almond butter is a yummy snack that will keep a person satisfied and assist with falling asleep.
Tart Cherries
Tart cherries just fun to eat as they are to look at. They are deliciously sweet and tart at the same time. In addition. tart cherries pack a punch with nutritional value. They help reduce high blood pressure and provide anti-inflammatory benefits. Furthermore, tart cherries contain more melatonin than any other fruit. If your looking for a sweet and nutritious late night snack, tart cherries are a must.
Skinny Pop
Nothing satisfies a salty tooth like some buttery popcorn. However, consuming popcorn drenched in butter late at night isn’t the best for your body. Skinny Pop tastes just like indulgent movie theater popcorn without the heaviness of the butter. Instead of butter, Skinny Pop opts for sunflower oil and just the right amount of salt and contains no preservatives. In addition, Skinny Pop contains no trans fats and is a good source of fiber. Overall, Skinny Pop is a healthy and equally delicious alternative to buttery popcorn.
Trail Mix
Trail mixes with dried fruits, nuts, and seeds are the healthiest choices and are extremely satisfying. It’s so easy to make your own variations of trail mixes or they are easy to find in stores. Trail mixes provide healthy fats, B vitamins and minerals. Furthermore, depending on your mix ins, trail mix may help with sleep if your mix ins contain melatonin. Trail mixes are rich with nutrients from nuts, fruits, and seeds, and keep a person feeling full.
Frozen Watermelon
Can’t shake the craving for ice cream late at night? Here’s a simple hack that will hit the spot: frozen watermelon. Frozen watermelon has a similar consistency as ice cream and is just as sweet. However, the difference is that frozen watermelon is significantly less calories, vegan, and contains many nutrients. Watermelon is a great source of water, vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin A. Furthermore, watermelon has very few calories in comparison to ice cream so it is a guilt free treat.
Hard Boiled Eggs
Hard boiled eggs are rich in healthy protein and will keep you full. One large egg contains about 6 grams of protein. The majority of the protein in eggs consists of tryptophan which helps you get a good night’s sleep. They are easy to make and delicious with some simple seasoning of salt and pepper. One hard boiled egg will curb late night hunger while providing many important nutrients.