Are you also someone who has an inevitable lifestyle of sleeping late at night? If yes, then you might surely know about the struggle with hunger during late nights. The struggle of how even after having a full-fledged dinner you feel hungry after some time and now you have no clue on what to munch on.
If you are also someone who has no healthy answer to your midnight cravings and hunger pangs and hence go on choosing unhealthy food items, then we are here to help you. Here is a list of 8 food items you can choose from for your midnight cravings.
1. Oatmeal
Whenever we hear about oatmeal we automatically associate it with mornings but we should be aware that oatmeal has a lot of night benefits as well. The hot and cozy bowl of oatmeal is rich in carbs which helps your brain to release the neurotransmitters serotonin and melatonin beneficial for a restful sleep. Not only this but the complex carbs in oatmeal break down slowly controlling blood sugar spikes that might mess with your sleep.
2. Foxnuts
If you can’t find anything healthy to munch on during your late nights then you can surely turn to makhanas i.e., foxnuts. This gluten-free snack is very rich in proteins and very low in calories. Foxnuts also help you in stabilizing high blood pressure, heart diseases, and obesity.
3. Pumpkin seeds
Yes, you read it right pumpkin seeds it is. One of the best options for your midnight snack is pumpkin seeds and the reason is that they are very low in calories and rich in magnesium and amino acid tryptophan which helps you to sleep better at night. Its crunchy and salty flavor makes it great for satisfying your midnight cravings. To enhance the benefits of these pumpkin seeds you can eat them with some carbs-rich food such as raisins.
4. Tart cherries
Tart cherries not only have anti-inflammatory properties but also help you sleep better at night. Containing the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin either the cherries in solid form or their juice can help you sleep at the right time.
5. Low-fat greek yogurt
Low-fat Greek yogurt is a good source of protein and calcium. The calcium present in it helps your brain to use melatonin and tryptophan effectively helping you in sleeping better. The only thing you should avoid doing is loading your yogurt with extra sugary sweeteners rather you should choose fresh fruits or crunchy seeds instead.
6. Protein smoothie
Having protein before sleeping has a lot of benefits including relaxing your muscles and repairing them. And what can be a better source of this protein than some protein-rich smoothies? So, don’t forget to add cranberries or blueberries to your smoothies the next time.
7. Quinoa puffs
These puffs are great for your health. They help in weight loss by increasing your metabolic rate and also improving your digestion and reducing constipation. Available in different flavors they can be very satisfying for you as a snack.
8. Banana and almond milk
Bananas rich in healthy fats when dipped in delicious unsweetened almond milk can become a winning midnight snack. Not being way too much in calories this snack can even help you have a better sleep at night and relax your sore muscles. The better sleep this snack brings is because both banana and almond milk are good sources of melatonin which improves your sleep.