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PM Snacks

kserrano1303
kserrano1303 Posts: 1
edited December 2024 in Introduce Yourself
What snacks are acceptable after 8pm?

My boyfriend and I both work long hours, by the time we sit down to dinner it's usually around 8pm. While we make every effort to eat half a plate of salad (lucky we love the stuff!) I often find that we're looking to snack around 9.30pm, but am so unwilling to snack on regular foods knowing I'll be asleep within two hours.

Surely I'm not the first to consider night-time snacking - is it better to go to bed hungry (and wake up starving, which is a HUGE problem for me because I often don't eat until around 9.30am) or eat? If eating is the answer, what to eat at that time of night. My boyfriend often eats yogurt but I'm concerned about the sugar.

Suggestions please !

Replies

  • sgarrard01
    sgarrard01 Posts: 213 Member
    Why not eat a bigger dinner, if your only having salad then there's no (well very little) protein in there which keeps you fuller for longer?
  • Harry_Du
    Harry_Du Posts: 4
    Hi kserrano1303, I've been dieting for over 3 years now and have read hundreds of articles on bed time nutrition, so I'd like to share with you my personal view.

    The key question is: What is your Goal for your current Diet?

    If health is your main goal, i.e. disease free, then consider not eating anything 3 hours before bed. Many research suggests that eating within 2 hours of going to sleep decreases your sleep quality due to digestion. In the long run, this would disrupt your sleeping patterns, causing stress or tiredness. There are also a few serious cases of stomach ulcer caused by irregular eating and sleeping patterns.

    If you are trying to lose weight via dieting, then definitely steer clear of foods that are high in sugar, fat or anything considered heavy (i.e. processed food, fried snacks, etc). While it is true that the overall calories deficiency causes weight loss, people find snacking at night is usually hard to control, so it's very easy to over consume. Here are a few suggestions for bed time snack: small portion of fresh fruit, a mixed leave salad with light dressing, a small fat-free yoghurt, glass of milk. Remember to avoid caffeinated product.

    Finally if you are trying to build strength or if you are on a body building diet (which is my case), then try to eat a small amount of complex carb or protein (e.g. cottage cheese) before bed. Personally I won't eat 2 hours before bed, and now it is a habit.

    Hope this helps!
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