What do you eat when you're hungry at bedtime?

3Alice3

I have porridge for supper a good few hours before bed but try and save about 50 cals for a bit of fruit or carrot sticks an hour before sleep time I too find it hard to go to sleep when I'm hungry and all i can think about is food !

LauraPa1mer

Cheese!

climbing_trees

Greek yogurt!
I like plain nonfat, mixed with cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and stevia.
Tastes great on its own or with strawberries.

If I don't eat before bed, I will wake up in the middle of the night totally ravenous. Since I'm not properly awake, my brain doesn't remember to have restraint and I will often eat entire containers of food >__<

ajravanos

it depends. if i am laying in bed, knowing that i probably wont fall asleep for a few hours, & still hungry, i will usually eat a hard boiled egg or a bit of chicken (usually a tenderloin, if i have taken the time to make any). if i am hungry & already half asleep, knowing that once i hit the bed, i will be out again, i usually just grab a tiny handful of almonds or a few brown rice crackers. i think as long as you keep in mind what your sleep time-frame is, & avoid a lot carbs & sugar late at night, you should be okay with a late night snack.

Vina4

If i need a snack i mix low fat cottage cheese and either sugar free jello powder or a little bit of the powder packets that you would mix with water usually. Very good and very filling.

arditarose

But what if you're already over your allotment? That's happened to me. I usually don't have food in the house so I have to steal an apple of my roommates.

wmcmurray61

A few walnuts, almonds or pecans. (Planned calories) I am a nut.

matteng52

Any dairy based protein is good. Because you're sleeping you want something that is slow digesting.

Graelwyn75

For me, it is usually carrots with hummus and a hard boiled egg, or some oatmeal.

Sebismom

Glass of water, or on rare cold nights a hot peppermint tea with a dash of milk. Otherwise, I lose all sense of hunger at night. When I was pregnant all bets were off and I tended to have a glass of warm milk with a cookie.

socalkay

String cheese or some raisins or a bit of peanut butter or a piece of dark chocolate. I almost always leave a couple hundred calories just for that bedtime snacky-snack.

bokaba

I like to eat unsalted peanuts or oatmeal.

dickefrau1105

glass of wine

annangelich

I eat dry granola with dried fruit in it (1/2 serving) helps with the sweet craving, if I want something salty I usually go with Open Nature veggie sticks. pretzels dipped in a laughing cow cheese, or Pepridge farms cracker chips... I try and stay with these choices as they help me sleep better. If I really want a a sweet or chocolaty snack I settle with a bite of ice cream or a bite of a candy bar. Although I try to stay away from those the best I can.

annangelich

I also love ants on a log, or just peanut butter and celery. I have to eat while in bed most nights... I just make sure that whatever I eat helps me sleep, leaves me satisfied, and is within in my calorie budget.

successgal1

Well, now I have to try cinnamon on my cottage cheese, and cocoa powder in my Greek yogurt.

A half banana with peanut butter. Apple sliced and sprinkled with cinnamon. Frozen blueberries, microwaved until warm.

21million

Edamame pods, popcorn, frozen fruit, soda, water or tea.

harmar21

I typically snack on some beef jerky, pepperoni, summer sausage, or almonds. Something that has a bit of protein and a bit of fat.. seems to make me not absolutely starving in the morning.

jke78

A cup of chocolate Mootopia.

raysputin

Weight Watchers jelly - 125ml.

ljashley1952

I sometimes eat a fruit bar or a popsicle when the weather is hot. Otherwise, I don't usually have them around, but my go-to thing to eat when I need a snack is an apple. If I need protein I'll eat a bit of cheese, but more often I don't need protein by that time of day.

CynthiasChoice

Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions! I'm touched that you all cared enough to try to help me. Here's what I've learned:

I need to plan ahead, and save up for a bedtime snack. (Surely I could have thought of that!)

There are many snacks I could choose from that if eaten in small quantity could be a low calorie option.

This link was especially helpful: http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/food-and-nutrition-articles/eating-cereal-before-bed
especially since it led me to this one: http://www.doctorshealthpress.com/food-and-nutrition-articles/the-bedtime-snack-that-actually-helps-you-sleep

This article recommended:
– Whole-grain cereal with soymilk –
– Hazelnuts and tofu –
– Peanut butter sandwich on whole-grain bread –
– Whole-grain pita and hummus –

Evidently, I need to eat something with tryptophan in combination with carbs so that I can get to sleep. (I've never had a problem sleeping before, but now that I'm eating more protein, particularly the amino acid tyrosine, my brain is really awake at bedtime.) The suggestion of cereal sounds good for me, while cottage cheese, which is high in tyrosine, might be a poor choice for me.

My German friends told me they eat a whole grain cereal called Muesli that's very different from our American cereals or granola. That sounds like something I need to find a recipe for.

I've learned one other thing: I have to add the word "peckish" to my American vocabulary! I love that!!

Thanks everyone, and sweet dreams!

shrinkingshreya

My strategy today was a huge container well, about 10oz of sugar snap pea's and carrots. Really filled me up-- and was super satisfiying crunching and munching on them all at 100 calories. Air-Popped corn, decaf green tea & brushing my teeth are other things I do as well to help me before bed time.

Goddess4Winds

Oh! Maybe I'll skip the cottage cheese at night and save it for a dessert! lol! Or breakfast! (I'm not giving it up! lol!) Thanks, for the info.

Graelwyn75

few muesli recipes for you.

http://www.nutritionstripped.com/nourishing-muesli/

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/5126/sevencup-muesli

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/jan/15/bircher-muesli-recipe

emkrti

I've been told by a personal trainer that eating something like greek yogurt (or cottage cheese, like another poster said) is the best option at night because it has enough protein in it that it will keep your metabolism going throughout the night while you're sleeping. That way, your metabolism doesn't slow down and you won't be hungry when you wake up.

dbmata

lefty421 wrote: »

I really dislike trying to go to sleep while I'm bothered by hunger pangs. Does anyone have a low calorie idea for quieting a hungry tummy?

Water.
Bourbon.
Paper.
Woman.

chrisdavey

100g oats
30g casein
some sort of fruit

KatrineJensen

A mug of herbal tea, and if I'm still hungry I'll have a handful of nuts and/or a piece of fruit or some cherry tomatoes or something. Or some yogurt with berries, maybe.

jennifer_417

Apple