How bad is it to eat afyer 6-7pm?

linnyrhea
linnyrhea Posts: 105
in Health and Weight Loss
I eat a healthy dinner around 5-5:30 but as soon as I get my oldest kid to bed at 9 im dying for a snack, how bad is it to eat that late?

Replies

  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    It's not bad at all. Eat whenever you want.
  • CMmrsfloyd
    CMmrsfloyd Posts: 2,380 Member
    There's nothing wrong with eating late as long as:
    1- You have calories left in your daily goal to spare and
    2- It doesn't interfere with your ability to get a good night's sleep

    If it makes it hard for you to sleep comfortably, don't do it. If you're out of calories for the day, don't do it or choose something light.

    I always snack at night. When the sun goes down I get hungry. I go ahead and plan it into my calorie plans for the day and it has not hurt my weightloss one bit. :-)
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    As long as you don't go over your calories there is no reason to not have a snack. If you are going to over your calories, you may want to think about what you're eating at dinner to make sure you're getting all of your food groups/macros/etc.
  • linnyrhea
    linnyrhea Posts: 105
    Sorry about the typo in the title :(

    Thanks for the input, I always have about 300-400 calories left after dinner, if not more and I usually make a healthy choice for a snack at night, I was just under the impression it was bad to eat later at night (must have read that somewhere)

    I feel better now :)

    I usually grab an apple or banana, greek yogurt or low fat popcorn after my kids are asleep :) Now I know I can eat it and not feel guilty.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    A lot of people think you shouldn't eat after a certain time at night, so I'm not surprised you've heard it somewhere. It's not true, luckily!
  • SwannySez
    SwannySez Posts: 5,860 Member
    Aside from increasing the potential for spontaneous human combustion, everybody who's already posted is right.
  • CMmrsfloyd
    CMmrsfloyd Posts: 2,380 Member
    The whole 'don't snack after dinner' thing works well for people who don't know anything about calories, it stops them from eating 'extra calories' mindlessly while watching TV. But if you're aware of your calorie needs and know that you have extra in your budget in the evening, the snacking isn't hurting you like it might a dieter who is unaware of their body's caloric needs for weightloss. :-)
  • bikinibeliever
    bikinibeliever Posts: 832 Member
    I eat after 6 or 7.....been working fine for me....21 pounds since Feb. 1st.
  • adamb83
    adamb83 Posts: 719 Member
    I was wondering about this too.... but even later. I almost always wake up in the middle of the night (2am-ish) with a huge desire to get a snack. Previously, this would be my binge eating time, so maybe it's left over from those days, or maybe I just get hungry at that time. I sometimes grab a granola bar or something small, but I worry about eating so late like that (and then going back to bed). Still, I'm of a similar mind as these responders.... if I had left over calories in the day, then why not?
  • onequirkygirl
    onequirkygirl Posts: 303 Member
    I sure hope it's okay. Some days I work til 9 or 11pm and don't eat until I get home......sometimes I eat 600 calories at midnight. Hasn't affected my weight loss. I used to be overweight even when I'd stop eating after 6pm, ha!
  • ashnm88
    ashnm88 Posts: 748
    I eat when I'm hungry. So if its late, then its late.
  • Bentley2718
    Bentley2718 Posts: 1,689 Member
    I was wondering about this too.... but even later. I almost always wake up in the middle of the night (2am-ish) with a huge desire to get a snack. Previously, this would be my binge eating time, so maybe it's left over from those days, or maybe I just get hungry at that time. I sometimes grab a granola bar or something small, but I worry about eating so late like that (and then going back to bed). Still, I'm of a similar mind as these responders.... if I had left over calories in the day, then why not?

    It might be that you are waking up hungry because you didn't eat enough during the day. If I go to bed with too many calories left over, I will wake up in the middle of the night hungry and not be able to sleep until I eat. If it doesn't bother you to wake up, then I guess it's not a problem. I usually try to eat enough so I don't have this problem.
  • lynheff
    lynheff Posts: 393 Member
    As an RN who used to work night shift I can tell you it doesn't matter when you eat. Your body will process those calories the same way it does the others. If you know you want a bedtime snack, just plan for it with your calorie allotment. Good luck!
  • AtticusFinch
    AtticusFinch Posts: 1,262 Member
    I often eat after 7pm, no big deal - just give your digestion a couple of hours to cope with it before bed.

    On NO account however eat after midnight !

    Stripe_bobble_head_figure.jpg
  • soaps54
    soaps54 Posts: 564 Member
    I do it all the time since dinner for me can be anywhere from 7-9pm and it's been fine. Go for it.
  • darkmouzy
    darkmouzy Posts: 227 Member
    For me I usualy stop eating between 8-10 depends on how much I have to study and calories left that night but never after 10 because If i have a full stomach or even a snack before directly sleeping I will not sleep lol

    Everyone's different :)
  • Paulbp4
    Paulbp4 Posts: 59 Member
    I was wondering about this too.... but even later. I almost always wake up in the middle of the night (2am-ish) with a huge desire to get a snack. Previously, this would be my binge eating time, so maybe it's left over from those days, or maybe I just get hungry at that time. I sometimes grab a granola bar or something small, but I worry about eating so late like that (and then going back to bed). Still, I'm of a similar mind as these responders.... if I had left over calories in the day, then why not?

    Trying a good protein source before going to bed will make you more likely to feel full and not wake up. I used to wake up in the middle of the night before I started eating cottage cheese right before bed.
  • annareeves0
    annareeves0 Posts: 5 Member
    One thing Im learning is to manage my own weird little bad habits. It turns out that I can eat really healthily all day but I want to eat non stop all evening. Rather than try to fight that (and fail like I have on every other diet so far0 Im learning to work with it. I eat great, really low calroie meals all day and save a lot of calories for the evening. That way if i wanna jam sandwich at midnight, its fine i cna have it! Some days I am eating as many as 1000 calories on snacks but as I am still within my limits (most days!!!!) Im not going to worry about it. I dont think when matters so much as how much in total.
  • Paulbp4
    Paulbp4 Posts: 59 Member
    I often eat after 7pm, no big deal - just give your digestion a couple of hours to cope with it before bed.

    On NO account however eat after midnight !

    Stripe_bobble_head_figure.jpg

    Why not eat after midnight? Hell if its after midnight it goes on to the NEXT days calories!!
  • Bikini_Bound150
    Bikini_Bound150 Posts: 461 Member
    Some evidence shows that eating a healthy snack before bed is healthy because it will keep your metabolism running strong over night. I don't see ANYTHING wrong with an evening snack :) We don't even eat dinner till about 7 anyway since we get off work at 5 and hit the gym till 7!
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    I hope its ok cause I go to bed with Chocolate Milk, Almonds and Crave Double Chocolate cereal every night for my bedtime snack. If it fits in your daily calorie deficit, it's all good............
  • GasMasterFlash
    GasMasterFlash Posts: 2,206 Member
    I often eat after 7pm, no big deal - just give your digestion a couple of hours to cope with it before bed.

    On NO account however eat after midnight !

    Stripe_bobble_head_figure.jpg
    Why not eat after midnight? Hell if its after midnight it goes on to the NEXT days calories!!
    Let me guess... you're under 30. Google "gremlins midnight"

    The 80's were a hell of a decade.
  • sugarbone
    sugarbone Posts: 454 Member
    It makes absolutely no difference when you eat. The human metabolism is not so delicate that not eating breakfast, or eating right before bed, will change anything.
  • tastemyrainbow76
    tastemyrainbow76 Posts: 14 Member
    I always try to eat my dinner before 5pm and go to bed at 8pm I f I get hungry I drink a hot green tea
  • Mitchlou84
    Mitchlou84 Posts: 135
    Can you eat a bit later? I eat dinner no earlier than 7, and often around 8, then I am full up til bed!
  • lmalaschak
    lmalaschak Posts: 346 Member
    Totally ignore all advice against eating at night. I have snacks every night. I just save calories for them!
  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    If you eat little children, its REALLY bad!:bigsmile: Otherwise, eat and enjoy!
  • AtticusFinch
    AtticusFinch Posts: 1,262 Member
    It makes absolutely no difference when you eat. The human metabolism is not so delicate that not eating breakfast, or eating right before bed, will change anything.

    This is true but I've found if you eat too close to sleeping hours you can feel uncomfortable in the abdominal region when you lie down after a heavy meal, or if you've only had a light snack you can still be plagued by the rumblings etc of the digestive process.

    If you can drop off regardless then yes, makes no physical difference.
  • BlaireV
    BlaireV Posts: 137
    It doesn't matter what time you eat, whatsoever.

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