Midnight snacks

LouisHamric

Hi I am new here and I am trying to lose weight and build muscle. I am a nurse that works 12 hour shifts from 3p to 3am. I have been doing really good with eating low calorie high nutrition meals during lunch and dinner (I rarely eat breakfast.) I usually eat around 1 PM and 6 :30 PM but then I get really hungry for a snack at midnight. At first I tried fruit but that just didn't satisfy me, and so I end up eating 4 Reese's sticks and a Monster Energy Zero Cal to make me feel halfway better. I don't eat any other sweets during the day. But I cannot break this habit. Can anyone give me some advice to get past these cravings. Even with this I usually stay under my 1500 calorie goal, but the point is I don't want to keep on eating these sugary snacks all the time, I want something else healthier that satisfies my soul and helps me get through me shift on a mental health unit.

Thanks,
Hungry Nurse

totameafox

you could try those cottage cheese with topping packs. that would give you a little protein and the topping would provide the sweetness

Corina1143

I don't understand why you stop eating at 6:30 PM. You're still awake and moving until at least 3am. More likely 4 am or later. Your body still needs fuel. I wouldn't be looking for snacks. I'd be adding another meal. Maybe around 11 pm?

sollyn23l2

I wonder if you're undereating. How much weight are you losing per week?

LouisHamric

I appreciate the feedback. I have tried pushing first meal back a few days to 6:30 and skipped lunch then I can have the dinner a bit later. It solves the late night problem but then I am just starving for my first meal. @sollyn23l2 I am not really losing much weight in fact I have gained a few pounds and then lost back down but staying right around 172-175. I attribute that to the fact that I was exercising everyday my first month and maybe some of that was muscle gain. Thanks for everyone for the feedback.

varianval

Healthy snacks, yogurt or apple can curb late night cravings

nicsflyingcircus

You could easily allocate 300 calories to your midnight snack and still have 500+ calories for each of your other 2 meals.

If you want sweet, 2 oreos is like 110 calories, then a cup of flavored Greek yogurt (80-100 calories) and then some berries or something.

I work 1930-0800 and I generally prefer to eat all my food by 12-1, but if I am hungry later in the shift, I accommodate that. This morning I had a 320 calorie breakfast sandwich (with 24g protein) at 6am. I'll just switch up my food plans for later tonight.

nossmf

Fruit can help with sweetness, but sometimes you just need that crunch. Enter portable veggies: carrot sticks, red or green peppers sliced into strips, radishes. Throw in cheese slices for protein, and you can have a sandwich bag full of food for under 150 calories.

jamallison

Split open a couple dates, put some peanut butter or almond butter in them and then sprinkle with coconut flakes or a couple dark chocolate chips… it’s my go to