Healthy Late Night Snacks

Most of us are in the habit of staying up late, either working, reading, watching T.V, or busy with some or the other activity. Whatever the reason may be, very often you can hear your stomach growling in the midst of those late nights. It is true that most of our late night food cravings stem from boredom or the mere desire to take a break from the activity we are engaged in, or to add to it. Sometimes though, they are genuine and may occur because of early dinner, dehydration, low salt levels or low sugar levels, or lack of proteins. In any case, our hunger needs to be satisfied. So why not opt for some healthy late night snacks and save on those calories which collect easily and quickly late at night?

Tips on Choosing Healthy Snacks for those Late Nights

Now, in your state of craving and hunger you are likely to end up reaching for whatever is in sight, without giving a thought about whether it is healthy or not, particularly as a snack at night. But before you do, stop just for a moment and think about what you should be eating rather than what you want to eat. Here are some tips on choosing a healthy snack for those late nights.

• The first thing to do when you feel hungry late at night is to drink some water, only because dehydration is one of the prime reasons of late night hunger and cravings. If that still does not suffice, head to the kitchen for some healthy goodies.
• Decide what is it you want to eat, sweet or salty, or perhaps, spicy. Just ensure you do not consume anything too heavy, otherwise the discomfort after eating such foods while sleeping will make you miserable.
• While it is ideal to consume protein rich foods, you may consume foods that contain healthy carbohydrates such as multi-grain bread, oats, and the like.
• If you have a special 'late night snack corner' in your kitchen, it will make it easier for you to make choices at that hour. It can be full of healthy snack choices for the night, and does not require you to stress yourself on thinking about what's good and what's bad for you at that hour.

Healthy Late Night Snack Ideas

You can choose your late night snacks depending upon your mood, like refreshing or comforting, quick or sweet, munchy or satisfying. This list of healthy late night snack ideas and healthy foods will help you get a better idea on what to eat to satisfy those late night cravings. Just remember to consume them in small portions (say 1 roll or 1 bowl). This is because no matter you safe you may perceive these healthy snacks to be at that hour, they are still likely to make you feel very heavy at night if consumed in larger portions.

Protein Rich Snacks:

• Mix together some chopped tomatoes, red onions, with zucchini and low-fat cottage cheese. Add the final touch with a little salsa.
• In some low-fat hummus, add some diced cooked chicken, and with some shredded lettuce stuff it into whole-grain pita bread.
• Toss together some diced cucumber, radish and low-fat cottage cheese topped with some olive oil and seasoned with some herbs like oregano.

Comforting Snacks:

• Add some honey and walnuts to a bowl of oats with milk to enjoy a warm, comforting snack.
• Indulge in a savory bean wrap by mashing some beans with salsa. Spread it on a whole wheat tortilla and sprinkle with some low-fat cheese. Wrap it up and heat until the cheese melts.
• Add some dark chocolate mix to a glass of steaming hot skimmed milk and revel in its warmth.
• Spread some olive paste on a whole wheat tortilla, and add some shredded chicken and lettuce to it. Make it a yummy wrap and enjoy!

Refreshing Snacks:

• Indulge in some chilled watermelon wedges seasoned with a little salt and pepper.
• Add to a club soda any unsweetened juice of your choice and top it with some crushed ice for the ultimate cool and refreshing drink.
• Create your own granita with some freshly squeezed juice.
• Add to a glass of tomato juice, some salt, pepper and a dash of lemon to give it the perfect flavor.

Crunchy Snacks:

• Scoop out the center of a cucumber and stuff it with some hummus for a crunchy healthy late night snack.
• Try out some vegetable sticks with some low-fat ranch dressing.
• Have a handful of some nuts such as almonds, soy and walnuts. You can also add very few raisins to these.
• Spread some low-fat cream cheese on a whole grain cracker with some salmon.

Sweet Snacks:

• Enjoy some diced apple dipped with low-fat plain yogurt. Add in a low-fat granola bar to enhance the taste.
• Have a fresh fruit salad topped with some low-fat cream.
• Go for a whole grain toast with some almond butter topped with a few sliced apples.

Once again, when you decide to give in to your late night craving make sure it is healthy and light, as eating too much at night can also affect your appetite for breakfast, which should not be skipped at any cost. Try not to eat very heavy foods as your digestive system also needs a break when you take one. Indulging in these healthy snacks at night is a good alternative for those of who need to fulfill their cravings but can do without the calories. Also, being light, they are great for those who have to work through long nights. Keep the portions small, and you will thoroughly be able to enjoy these snacks without the guilt!