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The Importance of Joy
Savory late-night snacks
Hummus
Hummus is a popular Middle Eastern dip and spread. It is typically made by blending chickpeas, tahini (Ground sesame seeds), olive oil, lemon juice and garlic. Hummus is full of proteins and healthy fat, the ideal savory treat for the late-night snacker.
Greek Yogurt
Greek Yogurt (Especially the unsweetened ones) before bed will provide you all of the protein you need to feel satisfied into the night. It is also a great source of probiotics to keep your gut working properly. What if I want it sweet? Add a drizzle of honey will do the trick!
Cheese
Cheese is a type of wholefood, whole foods are generally good for you, as long as you don’t eat too much of one thing. Cheese is a great source of calcium, fat, and protein. It also contains high amounts of vitamins A and B12, along with zinc, phosphorus, and riboflavin.
P.S: Be aware that cheese-flavored products are not the same thing – these products do not have the same nutritional value and are likely to be high in sodium.
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers, whether the green or red or yellow ones, contain good amounts of tryptophan – Tryptophan helps in the production of melatonin, which is a sleep hormone. Tip them into hummus or stuff them with cheese, trust me, it is even better!
Celery
If you are trying to avoid extra calories before bed but feel the need to eat something, try celery – Celery is full of vitamins and minerals and a low glycemic index.
Have you tried celery with peanut butter? It is a great combination for a simple and quick-to-make snack!
Nuts
High in protein and good fat, nuts are a good snack option at night, the problem with nuts is that it’s easy to eat too many. For this reason, pistachios are the best nuts to eat at night since they are tucked in a shell, so they take longer to eat and you are less likely to overeat. Walnuts and almonds are good choices too since they offer natural melatonin, protein and magnesium.
Sweet late-night snacks
Dark Chocolate
Standard milk chocolate might not be the healthiest, but dark chocolate is another story – Dark chocolates are rich in antioxidants and relatively low in sugar. However, if you are caffeine sensitive, dark chocolate might not be the wisest option for you.
Tart Cherries
Tart cherries contain melatonin, a key hormone for regulating sleep. A few studies has shown that tart cherry juice increases sleep time and sleep efficiency for people with insomnia.
Bananas
Bananas are a great source of potassium – Potassium helps to reduce blood pressure and help your body relax, allowing you to drift to sleep after satisfying your late-night cravings.
Tea
This is not exactly a “snack” but why not give chamomile tea a go, it can help settle your craving, keep you hydrated. Chamomile tea contains Apigenin - an antioxidant that helps to induce sleepiness, many people drink chamomile tea to treat insomnia because of its calming effects.
The best snacks to eat late at night are those packed with protein and melatonin. As long as you pack the right stuff, eating at night is not at all that bad and can help quell your cravings before settling down for the night.
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