When it’s well after dark, it’s late at night and your stomach starts rumbling and you get cravings to eat something good and end up eating whatever comes to your sight. Figuring out a quick snack which is tasty and healthy at the same time feels like a task to do as we don’t want to gain those extra kg’s and make weight control harder.
A small nutritious snack which is under 200 calories is a right option to curb your night cravings. Try to eat foods that help you sleep better , these foods have compounds that will aid a sound sleep and help in progressing towards a healthier lifestyle. If you have frequent night cravings, try having late dinner also avoid having high sugar foods and processed foods. Many consider fruits as an option but they too have sugar in them in the form of fructose, try avoiding consumption of fruits too after sun. Here are some healthy options for you to curb the food cravings at night-:
A bowl of mix seeds- you can have mix seeds like chia seed, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds etc which are rich in fibre and protein.
Nuts- nuts like walnuts, almonds, pistachios are good to have as a lighter snack during the nights as they are rich in many nutrients.
Oatmeal- oats are usually considered as a breakfast cereal but they are a good option for night too as it is a source of complex carbohydrates that takes a longer time to break down in your system which helps in controlling the blood sugar that might interfere with your sleep.
Eggs- eggs are another healthy and easy to make snack option for yor night cravings, they are rich in good quality protein and tryptophan which can make you full for a longer time and aid sound sleep.
Roasted chickpeas- chickpeas have low glycaemic index, are rich in protein, vitamin, minerals and fiber making them a healthy choice to consume at night time .
Greek yogurt- yogurt is a great source of calcium, your body needs calcium to produce melatonin, a hormone that induces sleep and makes it a go to option to consume when you experience night cravings . It is an excellent source of protein too, especially casein protein. Avoid having flavored yogurt as it has added sugar into it, go for unflavored sugar free yogurt.
About Dr Rohini
Dr Rohini Patil is a dietitian and nutritionist. She is also the Founder and CEO of Nutracy Lifestyle. As a social media influencer, she has won the FSSAI Eat Right Award from the Union Health Minister and Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare on the occasion of World Food Safety Day.