Getting a good night’s sleep is important to keep our bodies and minds healthy. However, no matter how much you try, there are nights that you have to stay up, and there are times when your tummy would keep you tossing and turning and craving some snacks.
Whenever you feel like midnight snacking, it can be tempting to grab a bag of chips, ice cream, chocolate bars, and other junk food. But you likely already know that they are bad for you. It’s time to change your mindset—you are never limited to unhealthy treats. You can always grab a healthy snack perfect for any time of the day, even at midnight.
In this article, we’ve prepared a list of the best healthy options for your next late-night snack session.
1. Popcorn
If you’re craving something crunchy, but you’re not really after something heavy, popcorn can be the perfect choice. Popcorn delivers the satisfaction of snacking on something crispy and will meet most cravings for something salty.
The bonus, though, is that popcorn will satisfy you without overwhelming you with calories. Imagine this—three cups of popcorn will only amount to 100 calories, so you can treat yourself without feeling too guilty.
Plus, popcorn is a complex carb, which means you will feel fuller for longer, unlike snacking on sweets. If you want to skip oil or butter, you can go even healthier with an air popper.
2. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich
If you want a snack and you’re also feeling quite nostalgic, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich can also be the ideal snack. According to the National Sleep Foundation, peanut butter is a natural source of tryptophan, which can induce sleepiness. Then, combining it with the carbohydrates from bread, tryptophan will become more available to the brain.
3. Pumpkin Seeds
Another great thing to snack on if you want more tryptophan is pumpkin seeds. Not only are pumpkin seeds salty and crunchy, but you can also get sleep-inducing magnesium and tryptophan with them. As a bonus, pumpkin seeds are also abundant in zinc, a mineral that can help the brain turn tryptophan into the happy hormone serotonin.
4. Nuts
When you’re craving a late-night snack, you’d want something convenient. Who has time to cook and do the dishes when it’s midnight? Just grab a handful of nuts for something to munch on and enjoy the healthy fat and protein that they come with. Organic nuts, especially almonds, macadamia, and pistachios, are powerhouses jam-packed with nutrients. They can help you fight inflammation, regulate blood sugar, decrease hunger, help weight loss, and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.
5. Greek Yogurt
Everyone knows how healthy Greek yogurt is, but do you know that it is also perfect for helping you catch some sleep? The calcium content in yogurt can also make use of tryptophan and melatonin to help you sleep better.
If you’re feeling bored with plain yogurt and craving some sweetness, just top your bowl with some fruit, and you’re good to go!
Final Thoughts
Midnight snack cravings come every once in a while, and it’s important to have go-to healthy options to avoid a downward spiral into unhealthy binging. Take a pick among these given options as a start—your body will thank you for it.
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